Black Bush Drove/ Daws Drove Whittlesey

Although Black Bush Drove is a bit further away than i would normally report on this can easily be taken in with a visit to Eldernell/Nene Washes. It is a right turn off the B1040 Pondersbridge Rd immediately after Kings Dyke as you leave Whittlesey. This is an exellent site for declining farmland species although i have only visited it twice before in winter. You can use your car as a hide or walk. The drove finally turns right and enters Daws Drove.

Another beautiful morning arriving here about 8.15am.

I parked the car about half way along the drove and started walking in a southerly direction. I was immediately impressed by the number of corn buntings here. They seem to be everywhere. On the road, in the fields and on the telegraph wires.Within 10 minutes i had seen both red legged and a grey partridge, reed buntings whitethroats & lesser whitethroats, willow warbler, lapwings and three migrating dotterel in a scrubby cabbage field. 2 males and a female. This is my first sighting of these so i was over the moon. Even though this area is considered an annual trip site for this species between late April and middle of May i didn't expect to be this lucky. Unlike most birds it is the female that is the most colourful with a rich sandy buff breast and strong white eye stripe. I watched these for about 5 minutes before they flew westwards.

Further along the drove i saw a yellow wagtail on the verge and a whinchat on hay bale. The road finally takes a 90d right turn on to a track which is Daws drove.About 600 yds on the left is a small man made lake fringed by alder and reeds. You have to walk up the bank to view it. About 100yds from me was marsh harrier sitting on the top of the far bank being mobbed by a crow before he made a get away.

The lake had a pair of great crested grebes and a little grebe. Reed buntings are again plentiful here. Further along the track i was rewarded with a brief site of my first turtle dove this year sitting on top of a telegraph pole. I doubled back to the car in the hope of seeing another dotterel but i new i couldn't be that lucky. A very successful morning.