January 2022

10 Buckden Roundabout January 2022 Wildlife in Buckden Winter visitors The arrival of our heralds of spring in Buckden, such as the Cuckoo and Swallow is much anticipated and enjoyed, but there are also many birds that come to us just for the winter months. Many arrive in the autumn, but as food supplies dwin- dle on the continent or if the weather there turns particularly hard, further arrivals take place through winter to boost num- bers further still. Our thrush diversity is at its best between October and March when resident Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrushes are joined by two exclusively - winter - visiting species; the Field- fare and Redwing. The Fieldfare is a large thrush that is found in flocks, identifiable even when passing overhead from their conversational “ chuckling ” calls. They are shy generally, but a good view reveals an attractive combination of blue - grey, chocolate - brown and black and a yellowish beak. The Redwing often joins Fieldfares in mixed flocks. It has bright red patches on its sides and a striking white eye stripe. Fieldfares and Redwings love to gobble berries from the Haw- thorn, Blackthorn and roses that we have a good supply of in the Parish, but they also like worms so look for them in fields and the damp meadows near the river. The Roundabout Buck- den walk will take you through good country for seeing both, but in a cold snap with snow and ice, they will come into gar- dens and both become much more approachable as they can ’ t afford to waste energy with unnecessary flights. We also get arrivals of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes from the continent in winter to come and join our resident birds, so you ’ ll probably see more of both species around now and over winter. Duck numbers and diversity is at its best now too as many spe- cies come here to flock on our plentiful water bodies in the Parish, especially in the Great Ouse Valley. The star local spe- cies is the Smew. This is one of the “ sawbill ” ducks – named from the serrations on the cutting edges of their beaks that enable them to grip their fish prey. Smews are small ducks and the male is one of our most attrac- tive birds. They are predominantly white with black “ panda patches ” over their eyes and a neat crest and are truly stun- ning birds. Females are grey and red with striking white cheeks. They occasionally come onto Buckden Pits near the marina, but the very best place to see them is Paxton Pits ’ Pumphouse Pit and the New Workings, best accessed via the Anglian Water Road starting near Stirtloe Sewage Works. This year, two pairs stayed there well into April, so they can take up a long residence after arriving in December. Among the other diving ducks are the handsome Goldeneye, the Pochard and Tufted Duck. Another sawbill, the Goosander, fishes on the river and has been known to visit the Valley Lake. Of the “ dabbling ” ducks, Wigeon can number several hundred birds on the various pits in the Parish and their whistling call is an evocative winter sound. Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and even Mallards visit us from northern Europe as well. (Continued on page 11 ) The fieldfare—Photo: Arnstein Rønning Male smew—photo Dick Daniels Male goosander—photo Tony Hisgett