The weather forecast was grim, with rain and strong winds predicted. Despite this, Kev @kev07713 and I decided to give birding a try and headed to RSPB Ouse Fen, where a couple of water pipits had recently been reported. After stopping for breakfast on the way, we arrived at an empty car park - likely a result of the unappealing weather. Recent sightings of both a Glaucous gull and a female penduline tit had drawn our interest.
We started by scanning the large expanse of open water to the left of the car park, hoping the light drizzle wouldn’t turn into heavier rain, though the wind was expected to persist. Apart from some marsh harriers, we didn’t spot anything noteworthy and couldn’t locate the Glaucous gull.
Water pipits are typically winter visitors to the UK, arriving from their breeding grounds in the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. They are most often found between October and March, favouring wetland habitats, such as marshes, reedbeds, and the edges of reservoirs. In their winter plumage, water pipits are brownish - grey above, with pale underparts that often have streaking on the breast. They appear less boldly marked than meadow or rock pipits.
We followed the track toward the area where the water pipits had been sighted, staying alert. Apart from a few tits and lapwings overhead, there was little activity. Turning onto the main reserve from the perimeter track, we soon heard the distinctive calls of bearded tits but despite their frequent calls, we couldn’t catch sight of one.
Then Kev picked up on a call - water pipit! We confirmed it using the Merlin app, which agreed with his identification. Moving back off the brow to the far side from where the call had originated, we waited. Within five minutes, our patience paid off as the bird flew up and further down the track. We quickly followed but it wasn't visible from there - we worked back and with the scope Kev picked it up on the edge of an island - by the time I got on it, the bird had taken flight, heading back toward where we’d initially heard it. We relocated again, and this time Kev spotted it near the edge of some reeds, fully out in the open. Generously, he stepped aside to let me take a look through the scope. After getting a good view, I quickly moved to raise my camera, but before I could focus, the bird was up and away again.
We watched the bird as it occasionally took to the air, and at one point, we spotted a second bird interacting with the first. Meanwhile, the calls of bearded tits persisted. Turning our attention to the reeds directly behind us, it became clear that one of the bearded tits was exceptionally close. And there it was in the base of the reeds, on the weed and working along picking up what appeared to be small insects or bugs. It worked left and up through the reeds, never getting higher than a couple of feet off the water while the reeds above swayed in the wind.
As quickly as it appeared, the bird vanished back into the reeds and out of sight. The calls of the bearded tits continued as we pressed on. Along the way, we met another birder heading in the opposite direction, who kindly pointed us to the spot where the penduline tit had been sighted and following his advice, we located areas of bulrushes - a habitat closely associated with this species, known for its affinity for reedbeds.
We paused to scan and listen, but neither saw nor heard anything noteworthy. Moving on, we encountered more patches of bulrushes, but there was no sign of activity around them. Eventually, we returned to the car park and met a couple who had just arrived. We directed them to the area where we had spotted the water pipits earlier.
Not long after they headed off and were lost from sight, the rain began to fall. Timing was on our side as we quickly packed up and took shelter in the car. From inside, we watched as the couple made their way back to their vehicle just as the rain turned heavier. We had been fortunate to finish our outing before the heavens truly opened.
We debated our next move and decided to try for the Caspian gulls reported earlier at Smithey Fen, with the added hope of possibly spotting the Glaucous gull. Upon arrival, we made our way to the main water feature, noting more than two dozen moorhens scurrying about in a nearby field.
As we approached, many of the closer gulls took to the air, seemingly wary of our presence, though we had kept our distance and stayed on the main track. A pair of red kites soared overhead, unsettling the lapwings and smaller gulls, while a green woodpecker flew across the track and into the field opposite the water.
We started to work through the gulls and spotted an adult Caspian and some other suspects of both adult and juveniles. There were quite a lot of gulls on the water and their peace was interrupted as a couple of Whooper swans dropped in - another four joining them quarter of an hour later. Patience and careful observation are often required to pick them out among large gatherings and although Kev and I have the patience we still struggle - I still hate gulls - they are hard given the variations with age and lack of ID confirmation with experienced gullers in the field.
Caspian gulls are a relatively recent addition to the UK's list, with sightings most common from November to February. They can be challenging to identify due to their similarity to other large gulls, particularly herring and yellow-legged gulls. They are slender and elongated compared to herring gulls, with a proportionally smaller head and a more upright posture. Their head is white with fine streaking during winter; in juveniles, the head appears pale with a contrasting dark eye mask.
The lady from the couple we'd seen at Ouse Fen appeared and we continued through the birds, still hoping the Glaucous would appear. It didn't and we left happy - I'd had a good day with two year ticks.
On Monday morning, while on holiday from work and with Charlotte off playing Pickleball, I took the opportunity to head out and try my luck with the smew at Euebrook Reservoir, one that Kev and I had missed a couple of weeks earlier. The drive was uneventful, and I arrived at the spot where the smew were reported to frequent. Recent sightings suggested 2–3 drakes had been present the previous day.
I scanned the area but couldn’t locate any. Hoping for better luck, I walked along the road to the southern end of the reservoir but still came up empty-handed. A buzzard perched in a bush caught my eye, though I didn’t bother with a photo as it was well-hidden behind a tangle of twigs. A kestrel in a nearby tree, however, made for a more appealing subject.
As I made my way back to the car and the original viewing spot, I noticed three bullfinches feeding in the hedge. They flitted along as I passed, leaving me hopeful that I might yet spot the elusive smew.
As I reached the area there was a gap cut in the hedge that allowed me to scan on the opposite side of the island - I'd viewed from here on the way out but now I could see two drake smew - tick. They are such handsome ducks. The smew is a relatively rare winter visitor to the UK, known for its striking appearance and elusive nature. It is a small, diving duck that migrates from its breeding grounds in the forests of northern Europe and Russia to spend the winter in more temperate areas. The adult drake smew is particularly eye-catching, with a striking black and white plumage, a bold black "mask" around its eyes, and a white body. Its black wings are tipped with white, and it has a slender, sharp bill. This reservoir is a well-known location for spotting smew during the winter months. They are often spotted in the deeper parts of the reservoir, where they can dive and forage for fish and invertebrates. I watched for as long as I could before I needed to leave for lunch with the family.
As I was packing up, I spotted an otter beyond the ducks and other waterfowl. It was diving frequently, resurfacing each time in a rather exagerated way. I watched as it moved from right to left, eventually losing sight of it as it likely traveled underwater. It was a fantastic way to end the visit.
Year list: 252.
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