Good afternoon. It has been really rather warm recently, hasn’t it?! I will begin my posting some pictures that were taken here last Saturday, courtesy of Matt Walton:
Sunrise over the river:
An otter fishing in the river:
A barn owl hunting over the washland:
A flying bittern:
A four spotted chaser:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Thank you very much to Matt for sharing these great images with us.
A hobby was over the washland on Monday lunchtime and a common buzzard was overhead. Suzanne saw a stoat in Brandon Fen and three curlews flew over the visitor centre.
There were plenty of invertebrates on the wing including good numbers of meadow browns. Several Roesel’s bush crickets were buzzing away near the Washland viewpoint and lots of banded demoiselles were feeding over the river.
I went for a walk before work on Tuesday and saw two cuckoos in and around East Wood. A painted lady was on the wing on the riverbank and there were three species of skippers on the wing. This included several large skippers, lots of small skippers and one or two Essex skippers.
It was very warm yesterday but several people were out and about despite the extreme temperatures. A kingfisher was seen from New Fen viewpoint and several bittern flights were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint. A green sandpiper also flew over.
The little bittern was heard barking in New Fen North triangle. It’s great to know that it is still around!
I went for a walk before work this morning and a cuckoo was calling in East Wood. There were several male black tailed skimmers basking on the riverbank and a comma was posing alongside the Public Footpath.
An emperor dragonfly was patrolling the skies in front of New Fen viewpoint and a common tern flew over. A garden warbler was also singing in East Wood.
The reserve team have done a bittern survey this morning and volunteer Darren won the prize for the most amount of flights: 14 just west of Joist Fen viewpoint! A single crane also made a brief flight in the same area.
Emma was based down at the far end of the reserve and she was startled by a large grass snake that slithered across the path in front of her.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon.