Ouse Fen Birder
@brickert.bsky.social
I think therefore I bird. Local patch RSPB Ouse Fen and RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes. Achieved birding ambition of seeing a representative from every bird family worldwide in 2024.
This hunting Short-eared Owl near Over this evening did a close fly-by: footage on my iPhone. Thanks to the finder, Andy Wood
September 7, 2026 at 7:06 PM
This hunting Short-eared Owl near Over this evening did a close fly-by: footage on my iPhone. Thanks to the finder, Andy Wood
What’s going on here? The 14th Pectoral Sandpiper I’ve found in East Anglia (11 in Cambs & 3 in Norfolk). This one a pristine juvenile. It’s only the 2nd recorded at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes - and my 1st sighting there.
September 3, 2026 at 9:40 PM
What’s going on here? The 14th Pectoral Sandpiper I’ve found in East Anglia (11 in Cambs & 3 in Norfolk). This one a pristine juvenile. It’s only the 2nd recorded at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes - and my 1st sighting there.
The 8th Red-backed Shrike I’ve found in the UK but only my 2nd juvenile. This one just west of Holkham Nudist Beach at; 52°58'29.9"N 0°47'12.5"E. However, it appears to have moved on just before the rain began. I’ve not seen it for the past 45mins.
August 27, 2026 at 11:57 AM
The 8th Red-backed Shrike I’ve found in the UK but only my 2nd juvenile. This one just west of Holkham Nudist Beach at; 52°58'29.9"N 0°47'12.5"E. However, it appears to have moved on just before the rain began. I’ve not seen it for the past 45mins.
Can't quite believe it ... a Nightjar hawking insects at Middle Fen, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this evening: Patch Gold!!
August 25, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Can't quite believe it ... a Nightjar hawking insects at Middle Fen, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this evening: Patch Gold!!
Unbelievably my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year locally today. There used to be several breeding pairs around Over but only one pair I’m aware up until last year and now none this year.
August 24, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Unbelievably my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year locally today. There used to be several breeding pairs around Over but only one pair I’m aware up until last year and now none this year.
Lovely juvenile Wood Sandpiper at Moore Lake, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this evening.
August 23, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Lovely juvenile Wood Sandpiper at Moore Lake, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this evening.
Thought my luck was in when I first saw this sandpiper distantly at Ferry Mere, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes last night (21/08) - but aside from the very short tail relative to wing length, I can't find any other pro-Spotted Sand features, so presumably it's a Common Sand (re)growing its tail.
August 22, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Thought my luck was in when I first saw this sandpiper distantly at Ferry Mere, RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes last night (21/08) - but aside from the very short tail relative to wing length, I can't find any other pro-Spotted Sand features, so presumably it's a Common Sand (re)growing its tail.
Always nice to see juvenile Whinchats in August locally at RSPB Ouse Fen. I still haven’t seen a Spotted Flycatcher locally this year though: they were a locally common breeder here 10 years ago.
August 19, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Always nice to see juvenile Whinchats in August locally at RSPB Ouse Fen. I still haven’t seen a Spotted Flycatcher locally this year though: they were a locally common breeder here 10 years ago.
The @OctopusEnergy team fitting my heat pump finished for the day so we settled down to watch the #OctoEclipse using the colander
August 12, 2026 at 8:32 PM
The @OctopusEnergy team fitting my heat pump finished for the day so we settled down to watch the #OctoEclipse using the colander
Great to see a pair of Lesser Emperors in tandem ovipositing at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes today. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
July 31, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Great to see a pair of Lesser Emperors in tandem ovipositing at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes today. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Nice Black-necked Grebe at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this evening
July 30, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Nice Black-necked Grebe at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this evening
Lovely vocal juvenile Common Cuckoo near Horningsea, Cambs this morning.
July 29, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Lovely vocal juvenile Common Cuckoo near Horningsea, Cambs this morning.
Southern Emerald Damselfly: my first and - I think - first Cambs records. Fantastic find by Andrew Maddocks. Also Clouded Yellow and several Southern Migrant Hawkers in the same area @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
July 29, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Southern Emerald Damselfly: my first and - I think - first Cambs records. Fantastic find by Andrew Maddocks. Also Clouded Yellow and several Southern Migrant Hawkers in the same area @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Our regular adult Caspian Gull has been back at Ferry several days now. I think it’s the third summer it has visited RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes
July 24, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Our regular adult Caspian Gull has been back at Ferry several days now. I think it’s the third summer it has visited RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes
Couldn’t resist going … the Long-tailed Shrike gave scorching views this morning to the assembled crowd. Many thanks to everyone involved with organising the parking etc. #RareBirdsUK
July 21, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Couldn’t resist going … the Long-tailed Shrike gave scorching views this morning to the assembled crowd. Many thanks to everyone involved with organising the parking etc. #RareBirdsUK
A stunning leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit at RSPB Snettisham on 14th July. #LeucisticBirds #UKBirding
July 20, 2026 at 1:01 PM
A stunning leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit at RSPB Snettisham on 14th July. #LeucisticBirds #UKBirding
Second year running for me to bump into a Semipalmated Sandpiper at RSPB Snettisham. This one from Rotary hide last night (15th July)
July 16, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Second year running for me to bump into a Semipalmated Sandpiper at RSPB Snettisham. This one from Rotary hide last night (15th July)
The Temminck’s Stint at Rainton Meadows, Durham late afternoon. Rather better views than the one I saw at RSPB Ouse Fen earlier in the spring !
May 27, 2026 at 8:17 PM
The Temminck’s Stint at Rainton Meadows, Durham late afternoon. Rather better views than the one I saw at RSPB Ouse Fen earlier in the spring !
Finally got around to going for the Black-winged Kite in Norfolk: it put on a good show catching its breakfast
May 22, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Finally got around to going for the Black-winged Kite in Norfolk: it put on a good show catching its breakfast
Reposted by Ouse Fen Birder
Ridiculous birds and wonderful. Black-winged Stilt at Fen Drayton, Cambs today found by @brickert.bsky.social #UKbirding
May 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Ridiculous birds and wonderful. Black-winged Stilt at Fen Drayton, Cambs today found by @brickert.bsky.social #UKbirding
2CY Caspian Gulls seem to be becoming a regular feature in May locally: population shift or we’re just more familiar with their appearance? This was one of two at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this morning.
May 15, 2026 at 8:18 AM
2CY Caspian Gulls seem to be becoming a regular feature in May locally: population shift or we’re just more familiar with their appearance? This was one of two at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes this morning.
Appalling heat haze but my first Black-winged Stilt at RSPB Fen Drayton - unless, like the last one, it turns out to be an escape. If not, only my 2nd self-found BwS in the UK #RareBirdsUK
May 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Appalling heat haze but my first Black-winged Stilt at RSPB Fen Drayton - unless, like the last one, it turns out to be an escape. If not, only my 2nd self-found BwS in the UK #RareBirdsUK
My first Wood Sandpiper of the spring, just before it got run over by a Lapwing: RSPB Berry Fen yesterday.
April 22, 2026 at 6:57 PM
My first Wood Sandpiper of the spring, just before it got run over by a Lapwing: RSPB Berry Fen yesterday.
Bittern at RSPB Ouse Fen today (19th April): it spent at least 5 minutes sat out in the open at Lockspit Mere
April 19, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Bittern at RSPB Ouse Fen today (19th April): it spent at least 5 minutes sat out in the open at Lockspit Mere
An interesting 2CY White-fronted Goose at South Huish Marsh, Devon, today: likely the same individual that's been in the Slapton Ley/SHM area since November 2025. First reported as a Greenland WfG, it is now being reported as a Russian WfG. The bill is orange but it has a small dark tip.
April 3, 2026 at 4:34 PM
An interesting 2CY White-fronted Goose at South Huish Marsh, Devon, today: likely the same individual that's been in the Slapton Ley/SHM area since November 2025. First reported as a Greenland WfG, it is now being reported as a Russian WfG. The bill is orange but it has a small dark tip.