Jack at Night

The Jack Snipe has a reputation among birders for being one of the most elusive waders in Britain. Small, perfectly camouflaged and incredibly trusting of its own disguise, it often sits tight in wet, tussocky meadows. Most encounters happen when one suddenly bursts from almost under your feet — usually when you’re halfway across a boggy field wondering if anything is there at all.

Traditionally, seeing one well has required a fair amount of luck. However, modern birding tools such as thermal imagers have made locating them a little easier. These devices can pick up the heat signature of birds hidden in dense vegetation, allowing you to find species that would otherwise remain completely invisible. It also opens up the possibility of searching for them at night, when they are often more active and not tucked away deep in the grass.

On Saturday night, a friend and I decided to give this approach a try. We walked slowly around a boggy field, scanning with the thermal and picking up several Common Snipe along the way. Eventually we located the smaller, flatter heat signature we were hoping for — a Jack Snipe.

To our surprise, the bird proved to be incredibly obliging. Rather than disappearing instantly into the vegetation, it stayed out in the open and allowed us to watch it at close range. It even performed the species’ famous bobbing motion, gently rocking its body up and down as it fed. For a bird that is normally so difficult to see well, it was easily the best views I’ve ever had of a Jack Snipe.

Etton Firecracker!

Yesterday produced a nice local surprise when my friend Hugh found a Firecrest in a hedgerow just outside Etton. As soon as I heard the news, Dad and I wrapped up our walk around Deeping Lakes and headed over to try our luck.

At first there was no sign of the bird, but after a bit of searching we eventually picked it up moving quickly through the hedge. It showed really well at times, though as anyone who has tried photographing one will know, Firecrests are incredibly quick and restless birds. Sharing the title of Britain’s smallest bird with the Goldcrest, they rarely sit still for long, so getting even a few record shots felt like a success.

Firecrests remain scarce locally, with roughly annual records in the area, and I haven’t seen that many around here over the years. The real highlight though was that these were my Dad’s best views of the species, which made the short dash over to Etton well worthwhile.

More Cranes

 

Flirting Cranes

A day of sunshine certainly got the Cranes excited last weekend.
 

Goose influx

 

This has been a remarkable winter for wild geese in the UK, and especially for those of us watching the skies over Deeping Lakes LWT.

The Christmas period saw a significant influx of Russian White-fronted Geese and Tundra Bean Geese into the country. It felt like every other day there were new reports coming in from around the region. I was fortunate enough to catch up with both species locally — and, pleasingly, White-fronted Goose ended up being one of the final additions to my patch year list.

That alone would have made it a good winter.

But early February brought another wave.

A second influx of Russian White-fronted Geese has resulted in thousands being recorded across Britain, with some impressive and, in places, record-breaking counts. Locally, numbers have been particularly notable. A couple of flocks of 70+ birds were recorded nearby — exceptional figures for this part of Lincolnshire.

On my own patch at Deeping Lakes, I’ve been lucky enough to see several flocks either flying over or dropping in briefly. Last weekend alone, different groups were recorded on three of four days — including nine birds that dropped in on the reserve for a short stay.

To put that into context, White-fronted Goose is not an annual species at Deeping Lakes. Some winters pass without a single record. So to have multiple flocks moving through in one weekend is genuinely special.

It will be interesting to see whether numbers remain strong through the rest of the winter, or whether this latest influx quickly disperses.

Either way, it’s been a winter to remember for goose watching in the Peterborough area.

Scalloway Up Helly Aa!

 

With Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa in full swing today, it’s the perfect moment to look back at the Scalloway Up Helly Aa earlier this month — the first of the season and a real highlight of my winter.

As the sun set, we joined the crowds to witness the dramatic finale: the burning of the Viking galley. It’s always a surreal and brilliant moment — the Guizer Jarl squad tying the boat to the shore, throwing their torches aboard, and pushing it out to sea in a blaze of flames, song and cheers. The atmosphere is electric.

This year’s galley was especially striking — painted pink in support of breast cancer charities, with the shields decorated by the squad and local school children. A powerful symbol of community coming together for a cause, wrapped in tradition and celebration.

Wishing everyone in Lerwick a fantastic night ahead!

American Surprise

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to add Woodlark to my Peterborough Area list — one of those tricky, often brief species that many local birders already had under their belts. It was great to finally connect with one and get it on the list.

That sighting prompted a bit of discussion among the local patching crew. We started comparing notes — who had what, what was still missing, and which species we thought might be easier to catch up with. I mentioned that I’d always assumed American Wigeon would be one of those “eventually” birds. I’ve missed a couple in the last decade or so and had figured it was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But as the years have passed, it’s become increasingly clear just how genuinely scarce they are locally.

Just a few days earlier, I’d been up on Shetland for Scalloway’s Up Helly Aa fire festival — and managed to spot a stunning drake American Wigeon while there. That was only my third in the UK, so definitely still a rarity in my book.

Then, out of the blue, a couple of weekends later, Matt Webb found an American Wigeon — this time at Ferry Meadows. Just like that, a long-hoped-for Peterborough Area tick had finally landed!

The bird was feeding on Gunwade Lake, associating with a handful of Eurasian Wigeon. I headed over this morning and enjoyed some cracking views — far better than the distant, shimmering silhouettes I’d previously missed out on at the Nene Washes. A few record shots in the bag too, which is always a bonus.

Now, if it fancies dropping in at Deeping Lakes to mingle with the local flock, that would really top things off nicely...

Long-eared Owl encounter

The Long-eared Owls at Deeping Lakes LWT have been behaving a little differently this winter. Since the vegetation was cleared between the hide and their regular roosting tree, they’ve become more difficult to spot — often buried deep in the ivy where they’re well camouflaged.

That said, I’ve had a couple of moments this month where one bird has shown beautifully, albeit briefly. On one occasion, I arrived early to find a single bird perched right out in the open, but the clear view meant it clocked me entering the hide straight away and didn’t stick around. A few days later, two birds had already been flushed from their usual spot and one landed further away across the gully, still in view long enough for a few photos.

These owls are a bit of a contradiction — I see them almost every visit during the colder months, but good views (let alone decent photos) are a rare treat. That flash of orange eyes through the branches never gets old.

More Up Helly Aa!

Every January, Shetland lights up—literally—with the start of its iconic fire festivals. Up Helly Aa season kicked off in Scalloway as always, and I was lucky enough to be there to take in the spectacle once again with my father and father-in-law.

Despite the less-than-perfect weather, the atmosphere was electric. This year’s procession brought the familiar mix of tradition, pride and just the right amount of chaos. Watching the first lines of torchbearers snake their way through the streets, with flames flickering against the backdrop of the dark Shetland night, was as dramatic as ever.

A standout moment this year was the striking pink galley—an eye-catching twist on the traditional Viking ship. It wasn’t just for show; this year’s squad chose to raise money for breast cancer charities, giving the event an added sense of purpose and community spirit. 

I managed to grab a few shots from the start of the procession, including the dramatic first view as the town glowed in the distance—a sea of flames and Viking spirit. Watching the galley lead the march down to the harbour is something I’ll never tire of. This event isn’t just a fire show—it’s about community, heritage and a proper Shetland celebration.

This is just the beginning—more photos from the galley burning to come very soon. 

Whoopers on Ice

 

More of the Snow

One of the highlights of my birding winter so far has undoubtedly been the Snow Goose that took up temporary residence at Deeping Lakes LWT, roosting with flocks of Whooper Swans and the occasional Bewick’s Swan earlier in the month. It’s not every day you get the chance to watch a rarity amongst our wintering wildfowl—especially so close to home.

Bewick's Swans at Deeping Lakes

Up Helly Aa!

Just returned from a weekend on Shetland for the Scalloway Up Helly Aa! More photos to follow as I recover!