Mark Hawkes
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grafhamwbirder.bsky.social
Mark Hawkes
@grafhamwbirder.bsky.social
Birding Grafham Water from Aug 1997 (236 for the patch) | WeBS counter | Cambs List 302 (233 self-found) | Former County Recorder | terrible photographer
Maybe! Now 9 new individuals this year. The change in status of this species at Grafham Water since 2005 in fascinating. I’m not sure what the driver is behind it…. Updated data as of today.
December 8, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Now 6 Great N Divers at Grafham Water this AM; 5 together near J buoy and this one close in at lagoons @birdguides.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
December 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM
4 Great Northern Divers at Grafham Water all on view at same time this PM (3 together + 1), adult Caspian Gull, 3 Bewick’s, Goosander, Common Sand, Peregrine & 35 Goldies over @birdguides.bsky.social @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
December 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Cold and clear at Grafham Water this afternoon. 3 adult Bewick’s Swans, 2 juv/imm Common Scoters, 2 adult Great N Divers and Goosander the highlights @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
3 adult Bewick’s (#169 for my patch year) & 4 Whooper Swans at Grafham Water today. Unusual to have 3 swan sp. here on same day. Also 3 adult Great N Divers still @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Any spot in a storm! 💨 The overhanging roof at Mander cafe once again providing shelter at Grafham Water 3-4pm. An incredible flock of 90+ Little Gulls east, followed by 7 more a little later. Smashing previous site highest count (52) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Sunrise at Grafham Water for today’s @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count. Highlight from my section was 2 Great N Divers, 3 Caspian Gulls and a Fox and a Heron having a stare-off! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
10 Common Scoters thru Grafham Water 0730 (my 3rd seaduck in <24hrs). Also Red-n Grebe found by RMP. Other highlights; Med Gull, Peregrine, 3 Caspian’s, 5 Whooper’s, Brambling and this grey Coot (for its 2nd winter) Water level still low! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Pleased to find 3 R-b Mergs at Grafham Water this PM. They dropped in. Preened. Then flew off east. Then I found a drk Scaup whilst trying to relocate them! 5 Whooper’s also present & Brambling over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
November 7, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Quick trips to Grafham Water, Ferry Meadows and Thorney today (between other appointments). Parakeets, Yellow-browed Warbler, Cranes and two (locally rare) Tree Sparrows @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Ferruginous Duck at Brampton East Pit at 07.30 (first seen by @duerden.bsky.social on Sat). Appeared to be female (occasional pale eye appearance prob the sun catching eye?). If definitely a female, probably long-stayer of dubious origin @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 27, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Family of four Whooper Swans at Grafham Water this morning from Valley Creek hide @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding @birdguides.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Two Glossy Ibis at Littless Creek, Grafham Water 2.15pm (found by Nigel Butler). A long-awaited Grafham Water tick for me (#237). And 167 for the year @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Pleased to find this Jack Snipe at Grafham Water this afternoon (only the 5th time I’ve seen this species here). Also happy to find 5 Common Scoters @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #cambirds
October 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Two terrible record shots of distant species at Grafham Water today. Whooper Swan & Rock Pipit. The former being a site year tick for me (#164) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
October 6, 2025 at 1:10 PM
A couple of hours at Grafham Water this afternoon result in zero seabirds, but seeing and hearing this Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was great. They actually passed over twice!
October 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Beautiful, foggy, sunrise at Grafham Water today. 3 Caspian Gulls the highlight from a quick visit. On Saturday I counted 113 Little Grebes - a new county record count @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Juvenile Grey Plover on Grafham Water Dam for 10mins this AM, then flew high NE @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Non-atlantis hooded Yellow-legged Gull at Grafham Water this AM (been around a few weeks), also drk Common Scoter plus 3 Redwing & Rock Pipit over @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #gulls
September 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Pleased to find this juv Little Stint at Maxey Pits, Cambs this evening. Been very few in the county this autumn. Lesser Yellowlegs still present too @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 22, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Juv Bonxie off Mander car park 07.00-07.35 at least, but mobile. The northerly winds produce again @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds
September 22, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Juv Gannet at Grafham Water, Camb 4-5pm, then flew off towards the dam. Been a few years since the last time I found one here (and this one’s my 6th ever here) @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding #ukrarebirds
September 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
That was some 13hours of seawatching!! By far my best ever. My brain in frazzled!! 🤪

Totals can be seen here;

ebird.org/checklist/S2...

@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @cbwps.org.uk #ukbirding #ukrarebird #seawatch
September 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
7am-5.15pm at Porthgwarra; personal counts 156+ Great Shears, 17 Cory’s, 63 Balearic’s, 18 Sooties, adult Pom, Black Tern, 4 Arctic Terns, 2+ Stormies, 2 Bonxie, 7 Arctic Skua @cbwps.org.uk @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Bit of a clear out of waders at Grafham Water overnight. Just 4 Curlew Sands early AM and one Black Tern. 15 Ringed Plover thru west. Pink-foot still around
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #ukbirding
September 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM