Misty Morning

On the Granta.  We walked from Barton to Cambridge over the M11. through Grantchester and the Paradise Nature Reserve at Newnham.

The Sparrowhawk Show

Today at Fowlmere RSPB reserve, there were gulls and sparrowhawks in equal measure, including this one that sat in a tree for nearly an hour, while the kingfisher was gone in six seconds.  Another birder saw his first bittern and managed to photograph it as well.  

Woodwalton Fen

Bittern was elusive as usual, and fluffed its feather up like a ruff.  The jay was a long way away, the kingfisher much closer, and we had four sightings of sparrowhawk.  

Dancing on Ice

Ann, Miles and I went to Welney on a cold, frosty day and watched the ducks landing on the ice - some did it better than others!  The Whooper swans (top three pix) were very noisy, the heron on the ice very quiet.  Pintail were pretty, a Marsh Harrier with prey was relentlessly chased by a crow and the crow eventually scared a sparrowhawk into flight from one of the gateposts - we hadn't seen it arrive.  

Museum of Earth Sciences

Meredith had a ride on the top deck of the Park & Ride bus to Downing Street and played with interactive games at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences.  Then we went to the Fitzwilliam and looked at the knights in armour and ate a cookie.  Then we went back on the top deck of the bus.

The Botanic Gardens

Ann and I visited the CUBG and found the glasshouses being refurbished.  There was an egret on the main pond and a student nearby reading a large book.
 

More Sand Racers

The Jawa riders, being speedway men, were at home on this surface and had the best lean angles (though not the leanest tums!) and spray reach.