Nene Washes

When I set out on this year list I wasn't sure how feasible visits to the most diverse location in the area would be. This morning I set off from work on the bike at 06:45 and had a good half an hour or so to explore the central drove before heading back. Plus the route there and back takes in the High Wash and Stanground Wash, both of which have good birds at times.

Four species added to the year list this morning, although not the hoped for Water Pipit. The washes are extensively flooded and the drove is completely flooded from about half way. It's pretty wet and muddy before that too and very hard going on a bike.

There were 260 Whoopers and about 10 Bewick's Swans, 1000+ Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatchers and many Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Golden Plover and wildfowl.

In total this bike ride of just over two hours netted 61 species. A couple more species added later in the day brought the green day total to 63.

87 Whooper Swan
88 Black-tailed Godwit
89 Bewick's Swan
90 Dunlin

Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus



Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa icelandica


Bewick's Swans Cygnus columbianus