CROYDON RSPB MEMBERS' GROUP - TRIP REPORT

The drive up to Cambridgeshire was no fun in the steady drizzle; not that our drivers complained - there was good birding ahead! We had chosen to visit the RSPB's Ouse Washes reserve first, although concerned that we might have to view the flood into the morning sun - a fat chance of that as it turned out! Actually, the rain was not too troublesome as we had only to brave it while walking between hides, most of the viewing being done from their shelter. It was the cumulative effects of the extraordinary rainfall over previous months that bothered us more : the Washes were doing what they were designed to do - providing a huge balancing reservoir, temporarily holding back many millions of gallons of rainwater draining down from the East Midlands and so avoiding an inundation of farmland and villages all the way to the coast. However, with the water so deep, the site had lost its attraction for dabbling ducks, which were scarce. In fact our attention was drawn as much to the soggy landscape behind the hides as to the expanse of water in front of them and we were able to find red-legged partrides and a 'ring-tail' hen harrier in or over nearby fields, while a sizeable flock of passerines in bushes around the Welches Dam visitor centre and the adjacent farm contained such welcome species these days as corn bunting, yellowhammer and tree sparrow.

After lunch, we were ready to move further along the Washes to the WWT reserve at Welney - only about six miles away to the northeast as the crow flies, but on the opposite bank. Even the most direct drive between the two reserves is rather devious - and it involves using the A1101 across the Washes. The warden confirmed that this crossing would be under water but, after consulting his level gauge, predicted that the water depth would only be six inches - if we could stay on the central crown of the road! This gave food for thought, but, as there was no predicting what would happen if we met a vehicle coming in the other direction, we opted for a more roundabout but safer route via Ely - almost an hour's drive. This proved not to be time wasted, however, as we had good views of a mixed flock of about a hundred Bewick's and whooper swans feeding in roadside fields on the way.

The first attraction at Welney was a feeding station for passerines and those remaining near the car park to keep an eye on this were soon rewarded when a brambling appeared among the more usual finches and tits. Across the road in the reserve proper, our mobility was severely limited by the very high water levels in both the Washes and the New Bedford River which seperates the reserve from the road. Access to all other hides had been severed, so we had to stay put in the main hide, not too onerous given the comfortable chairs, carpeted floor and central heating provided there! The warden needed to don chest-high waders at feeding time and used a floating wheelbarrow, but as usual the spectacle was an engrossing one : mute, whooper and Bewick's swan were all viewable at close range, while the most numerous contenders for food were pochards - several hundred were present, all but about three of them males! Pintails, goldeneyes, shelducks, shovelers, wigeon and teal stayed a little further out.