Fen Drayton Lakes

Monthly Sightings Summary - March 2023

2023-03-29T07:46:00Z

Things are picking up pace. With the flow of spring migrants arriving and winter migrants starting to head off, March was an exciting month on the reserve. Flooding was the main feature which forced parts of the reserve to be cut off. It also flooded out the washes forcing the large Black-tailed Godwit flock to move up to Fen Drayton Lakes, a traditional movement in high water times. The flock peaked at 3400 individuals, an amazing sight. They also included one rather special visitor, a 27 year old bird, which holds the world record for oldest Black-tailed Godwit. Hopefully there's a few years left in the old bird yet!

Oldest known Black-tailed Godwit in the world! Photo: Richard Bradbury.

Elsewhere on the reserve it was very busy for birding including:

Fieldfare - 120 over Middle Fen on 1st, appeared to be migrating in lots of small flocks
Woodcock - flushed from Elney on 1st and 28th
Avocet - 2 on Moore on 3rd, 8 on Ferry on 17th
Rock Pipit - Ferry on 4th
Smew - 2 drakes back on Moore briefly on 5th
Goosander - redhead on Moore on 5th
Crane - 2 over Middle Fen on 11th, one over Ferry on 26th
Pink-footed Goose - Ferry on 11th and on Middle Fen on 16th
Pintail - 157 on Middle Fen on 13th
Sand Martin - 10 on Drayton on 15th, 56 on 21st
Chiffchaff - 4 singing on 17th
Ruff - 5 on Ferry on 17th, 6 on 26th
Corn Bunting - singing male on Middle Fen on 18th
Med Gull - Middle Fen on 21st
Swallow - Moore on 25th
Yellow Wagtail - Ferry 25th
Dunlin - 2 on Ferry on 26th
Goldeneye - still 40 on reserve on 26th
Shelduck - Ferry on 27th

The first butterflies were out during sunnier spells with Brimstones, Green-veined White and Peacock seen. Also there have been some Stoat and Weasel sightings along the entrance road.

Monthly Sightings Summary - February 2023

2023-02-28T14:30:00Z

Winter can feel like it is dragging it's feet by February but for those hardy enough to get out and search the lakes for birds some unusual species can be seen. By the middle of the month the first signs of Spring were making themselves known such as the first booming Bittern (19th) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls passing through. Along the river there are already swathes of Daffodils coming into flower and Snowdrops are past their best already. Other sightings this month included:

Oystercatcher - first returning bird on Moore on 3rd
Raven - one over the entrance road on 4th
Caspian Gull - one on Drayton on 5th
Smew - 4 (3 drakes) on Drayton on 5th
Water Pipit - one on Ferry on 7th
Green Sandpiper - one wintering on Moore on 8th
Avocet - 2 back on Ferry on 12th
Barn Owl - 2 hunting on Ferry on 19th
Tawny Owl - heard on Middle Fen on 27th
Great Egret - 11 in to roost on Elney on 27th

Monthly Sightings Summary - January 2023

2023-02-28T14:11:00Z

With a new year comes a new chance to get out birding, start a year list or just to get some fresh air and exercise. At Fen Drayton Lakes it means getting stuck in to looking at all the wildfowl and gulls which congregate. Lots of people got out in the new year with some interesting sightings amongst the usual suspects. Highlights this month were as follows:

Great Egret - 7 at Drayton on 2nd
Woodcock - 5 flew out of roost on 2nd
Marsh Harrier - one on Oxholme on 3rd
Lapwing - 200 on flood on Middle Fen on 4th
Glossy Ibis - 2 on Middle Fen on 8th
Chiffchaff - Holywell on 12th
Goosander - 3 redheads on Drayton on 18th
Redshank - Ferry on 19th
Pintail - 8 on 19th
Shelduck - 2 on Ferry on 21st
Bearded Tit - 6 at Ferry on 21st
Ruff - one on Middle Fen on 22nd
Bittern - 3 on Holywell stood on ice on 23rd
Smew - 3 on Oxholme on 25th
Red-crested Pochard - drake on Oxholme on 25th
Caspian Gull - one on Oxholme on 27th
Mediterranean Gull - one on Drayton on 29th

Lapwing at Fen Drayton Lakes

2023-02-07T14:32:00Z

Lapwings are wading birds that can be found in grasslands, farmland and wetlands. They are well known for their distinctive calls, giving them the alternative name 'peewit', their complex courtship displays and their striking plumage, in particular their head crests. Sadly, lapwing populations in the UK have declined significantly over the past few decades, predominantly due to changes in agricultural practices and the loss of suitable nesting habitats, meaning that they are now a red-listed species in the UK and are deemed a conservation priority. Here at Fen Drayton Lakes, we have seen a steady decrease in breeding numbers so are working to provide suitable habitats and to implement effective habitat management measures with the aim of helping the species recover.

Lapwings are ground-nesting birds that lay their eggs in shallow scrapes, often in grassy fields. The chicks are born precocial, meaning they leave the nest after hatching and feed themselves with the help of their parents who care for them until they fledge. Nesting lapwings require suitable grass sward and vegetation conditions in order to build their nests and rear their young. The ideal habitat is an area of short, grazed grass with some scattered tussocky vegetation and bare patches with nearby shallow water margins. This type of habitat provides cover for the birds, feeding areas for adults and chicks, and reduces the risk of predation.

The grasslands of Ferry Mere along the northern edge of the lake is the best area for nesting lapwings at the reserve and we carry out management work in order to maintain it as a suitable habitat. The area is grazed by cattle in the summer and autumn to ensure suitable grass conditions the following spring when lapwing are looking to nest with a majority low, even height. This enables the birds to see around them and watch out for predators, thus making them feel more secure and more likely to nest.

Having nearby tall trees and shrubs can deter lapwing from nesting as they provide cover for ground predators, such as foxes, and perching points for avian predators, such as crows, that can take eggs and chicks. In previous years we have worked to fell trees from around the ditches on Ferry Mere and this past winter we have spent time with our volunteer work group removing a dense area of tall trees from the lake edge very near to our shallow pools where lapwing are often seen and have nested in the past. Not only will this improve the area for the birds, but it also has the added benefit of opening up views of the lake from the footpath and view shelter along the north of Ferry Lake.

As we head into spring the large wintering lapwing flocks will start to disperse, but we hope that some will stay and choose to nest out on Ferry Mere or elsewhere at the reserve. We will be carefully monitoring lapwing numbers as part of our annual breeding bird surveying to see the effects of our management work and determine if there is more we can do. In fact, we are already working on plans for another project to try to ensure the continued presence of shallow pools that remain wet throughout the breeding season. Watch this space for more details in the future.

Before Six O’Clock - a poem by Sr Margaret Atkins

2023-01-31T10:05:00Z

Before Six O’Clock - a poem by Sr Margaret Atkins

Before six o’clock it is their kingdom, each

A singing centre, a lord of its own.

Humanity asleep is sidelined; I

Irrelevant, alert, alone,

In khaki slow-paced silence, fearing to break

Their dawnlight assurance of early May.

The blackbirds carol, from peak of every tree,

The song thrush chants his doubled lay.

The tiny avian king - troglodytes twice -

His song huge as his heart, bursts out

From a hedge. A roe-calf pauses to check my intent,

Then ambles on, sans care, sans doubt.

A chiffchaff is playing an ostinato, while

The cuckoo chimes his singsong clock

Each second all the hour. A hobby scythes.

A greenfinch trills. A sparrow-flock

Feeds chattering at ease. My reverent step

Unsettles just one heron into flight

Of awkward elegance. The lake’s surface

Shimmers serene as morning light.

The lake bears unexpected gifts: a bittern

Blows across his bottle-tops;

A tern, so close I glimpsed her black-tipped bill,

A flash of grace, she flips and drops.

An explosion of Cetti’s shakes the reeds. ‘Perhaps,’

It hints, ‘It’s time to return to base.’

The hour of magic is draining away, the world

Of humans wakes. A change of pace.

En route, the breakfast-gang of rooks is rowdy.

(‘No parties,’ warned the B&B.)

It’s after six. The morning’s first alarm:

The blackbirds sense humanity.

‘Egrets and cabbage whites,’ declared the blurb.

Should I - who saw no butterfly -

Demand a refund? Absit! In this, their realm,

No quota, limits, price, apply.

In the dawnlight kingdom all is gift and praise,

Which from and to their Giver flow.

Could we the day-shift run as grace, not greed?

What magical hours might sing and grow?

with grateful thanks to Szabolcs Kókay for the illustrations (https://kokay.hu) and to Fen Drayton RSPB reserve.

Upcoming Changes at Fen Drayton Lakes

2023-01-05T15:42:00Z

Work is underway here at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes on a new family trail to open in the spring. The route will take in several different habitats whilst being less than a mile long; perfect for seeing a little bit of what the reserve as a whole has to offer. Leaving the car park through the gate at the end, the trail will go north through our sandy area of ‘early successional grassland’, through the small wood and out into the floodplain meadow along the river before looping back with views over Drayton Lake and Holywell reedbed.

Area of Holywell north of the car park that our new family trail will traverse

You may have already heard that we are looking to improve our visitor facilities over the next few years. These improvements, of which the new trail is a part, have been in the planning stages for a long time so we are pleased to say that real progress is now being made.

The first stages of this project involve providing more facilities for visitors to enhance your experience, such as repairing and improving tracks and surfaces, creating wild play features for children and families, opening new trails and providing much needed permanent toilet facilities helping everyone to enjoy their visit even more. We hope these improvements will benefit all our visitors and that you will support us in this next important step for the reserve.

To help fund these improvements, we will shortly be introducing a £2 car park fee for non-members of RSPB visiting Fen Drayton Lakes. RSPB members and Blue Badge holders do not need to pay. This small car parking fee will also help us ensure we are maintaining facilities to a high standard for our visitor’s comfort and safety. As a charity, we need to maximise opportunities to raise income wherever possible to financially support our charitable purpose of conserving wildlife and habitats.

Winter is always busy on the reserve with many birds from northern Europe spending the winter with us. At this time of year, you may be able to spot fieldfare, bullfinch, woodpeckers, herons, great crested grebes and hundreds of over-wintering waterbirds such as goldeneye and wigeon. We hope you’ll come and see us soon.

If you would like to join the 1.2 million RSPB members to help protect wildlife and the special places it lives, or would like to find out more about membership, please take a look on our website at www.rspb.org.uk/join-and-donate/join-us/.

Monthly Sightings Summary - December 2022

2023-01-03T10:43:00Z

With the end of the year approaching there were plenty of interesting birds turning up on the reserve. A cold snap saw overnight temperatures falling to -8 degrees and staying below freezing for about a week. The reserve was transformed into a winter wonderland and waterfowl were massing on the remaining open water. Sightings of note during the month included:

Great Egret - 8 flying over Holywell on 3rd, 14 on Ferry on 15th
Cattle Egret - 20 flying over Holywell on 3rd
Golden Plover - 20 flew over the busway on 6th
Glossy Ibis - One flew from Ferry to Moore on 6th and again on Middle Fen on 20th
Smew - The first pair returned on Moore on 9th, 3 on Ferry on 17th
Green Sandpiper - One on Moore on 10th
Red-crested Pochard - Drake on Elney on 10th
Water Pipit - Calling bird on Elney on 10th
Black-tailed Godwit - 45 on Moore on 10th
Bittern - 3 on ice on Oxholme and Elney on 14th
Wood Duck - Pair on Ferry on 14th
Whooper/Bewick's Swan - Flock of 5 flew over Ferry on 14th
Short-eared Owl - One on Middle Fen on 17th
Spoonbill - One on Ferry on 18th
Peregrine - One over Holywell on 19th
Long-tailed Tit - Not normally featured but 78 on 19th counted around Drayton and Ferry was notable
Redshank - One on Elney on 20th
Goosander - Duck on Drayton on 23rd into the new year

Wishing a happy new year to all the blog readers and to good birding in 2023!

Monthly Sightings Summary - November 2022

2022-12-13T09:54:00Z

This didn't feel like a typical November when you'd expect Autumn to be in it's last throws. The very mild weather encouraged birds to continue to be on the move and it felt more like October for the most part. This was exemplified by the sighting of a Little Stint on Moore on the 9th and an Osprey over Ferry on the 20th, the latter was one of the latest records ever for Cambridgeshire. By the month end, our typical winter visitors such as Woodcock and Goldeneye were back, the latter in numbers. The Spoonbill returned to Moore on a couple of occasions and the regular Cattle Egret flock peaked at 41 on Middle Fen. Almost an afterthought now they have become so regular but the 8 Glossy Ibis were present again on 25th. Other birds of note included:

Green Sandpiper - 2 on Elney on 8th
Marsh Harrier - immature present throughout, rising to 2 on Holywell on 26th
Little Grebe - 6 on Ferry on 10th
Jack Snipe - 2 on Ferry on 11th
Goosander - redhead on Elney on 13th and 18th, rising to 2 on 24th on Ferry
Bittern - Elney on 13th
Grey Wagtail - 2 on Ferry on 16th
Dunlin - 3 on Moore on 18th
Goldeneye - 9 on Moore on 21st
Stonechat - male on Ferry on 24th
Lapwing - 350 on Ferry on 22nd rising to 500 on 28th
Yellow-legged Gull - Moore on 29th

Monthly Sightings Summary - October 2022

2022-11-17T11:25:00Z

October is one of the most exciting months in the birding calendar as the departure of summer migrants and winter visitors both take place at similar times. It can be possible to have a Swallow hawking around whilst the first Redwings arrive, making their 'seeep' call overhead. This wonderful collision of seasonal visitors also leads to less common species occurring. The highlight this month was the two Spoonbills which turned up on Moore Lake and stayed for a few days with one remaining a little longer. Selected sightings for the month were as follows:

Glossy Ibis - 4 still on Moore Lake on 6th
Pintail - two on Moore on 6th, 3 by 15th, 2 on Ferry on 18th
Redwing - first back on Far Fen on 11th
Lapwing - peaked at 150 on Elney on 15th
Black-tailed Godwit - 3 on Moore on 18th
Siskin - over Holywell on 20th
Fieldfare - first back over Holywell on 20th
Bearded Tit - 2 on Holywell on 21st
Great Egret - present throughout the month in double figures on Moore, peaked at 24 on 25th - a new reserve record!
Caspian Gull - 2cy on Moore on 27th and Ferry on 30th
Goldeneye - back on Moore on 31st

With things staying mild the autumn migration may well continue further into November than traditionally is the case.

Monthly Sightings Summary - September 2022

2022-10-18T15:49:00Z

With the days starting to get shorter the birds start to get moving to their wintering grounds. At Fen Drayton Lakes this means chance of some unusual waders and visible migration overhead in the form of finches and larks. Highlight of the month went to a juvenile Osprey which showed well for several observers at Oxholme Lake on the 9th before departing. Elsewhere on the reserve Moore Lake seemed to be the place to be with lots of action around the islands following the clearance of this year's vegetation and falling water levels exposing mud for waders and shallow waters to hunt for egrets and ibis. Sightings of note included:

Glossy Ibis - 4 on Moore Lake on 1st - stayed throughout the month
Great Egret - 6 on Moore on 1st
Dunlin - 2 on Moore on 1st
Ruff - 2 on Moore on 1st, 2 on Ferry on 4th
Black-tailed Godwit - on Moore on 1st
Spotted Flycatcher - along Oxholme Drain on 3rd
Kingfisher - 2 on Moore on 6th
Egyptian Goose - 23 on Moore on 6th
House Martin - 30 over Moore on 6th
Sand Martin - 55 over Moore on 7th
Red-crested Pochard - drake on Moore on 7th
Marsh Harrier - juv on Holywell on 22nd - will hopefully winter
Hobby - at Holywell on 24th - last of the year?
Bittern - on Elney on 24th
Raven - over Middle Fen on 24th
Goldfinch - 100 on Middle Fen on 26th
Cattle Egret - 13 on Middle Fen on 26th

Osprey by Simon Freedman

Monthly Sightings Summary - August 2022

2022-09-06T14:25:00Z

News of the month concerned the discovery of two juvenile Turtle Doves on 15th, which had clearly been hatched on site. Despite there being up to six territories of the species this year, proving breeding was looking like a difficult task so it was nice to confirm they had bred. The best area to see them was in the orchard where they joined up to 4 adults and at least 20 Collared Doves. Quite why so many doves were attracted to this particular part of the reserve we're not sure. There was a plentiful bounty of fruit on the trees and quite often doves were seen perched up in the trees as well as on the tree cages. It seems unlikely they were eating fruit though... In other news, a White Stork flew over Oxholme on 18th heading west and the Glossy Ibis flocks continued, spending time between Moore and Ferry. Also during the month the following were recorded around the reserve:

Green Sandpiper - 4 on Moore on 4th, rising to 7 by 11th
Cattle Egret - 16 on Ferry on 5th
Bittern - on Ferry on 8th, 2 on Oxholme and Elney on 26th
Great Egret - 4 on Moore on 8th, rising to 10 by 22nd
Red-crested Pochard - 4 on Ferry on 8th
Ruff - 2 on Moore on 11th
Spotted Flycatcher - at Ferry on 11th
Black-tailed Godwit - on Moore on 18th
Yellow Wagtail - 12 on Ferry on 17th, 24 between Ferry and Springhill on 27th
Tufted Duck - 2 broods seen on Moore on 18th
Greenshank - on Ferry on 20th
Little Ringed Plover - on Ferry on 28th
Common Sandpiper - 6 on Ferry on 28th
Avocet - 2 on Moore on 29th
Swift - a late on over Moore on 30th
Dunlin - 2 on Moore on 31st

Other wildlife sightings consisted of a Clouded Yellow butterfly along the entrance road on 8th and 3 Otters on Ferry on 28th

Freshly fledged juvenile Turtle Dove at Fen Drayton Lakes

Monthly Sightings Summary - July 2022

2022-08-02T09:33:00Z

The breeding season reached a peak in July with all of the gull and some of the tern chicks fledging from Ferry. Unfortunately on Moore the Lesser Black-backed Gulls picked off pretty much all of the chicks there which was sad to see. Overall though it has been a very good year for the Black-headed Gulls with many of the 600 pairs managing to fledge at least one young each. The fledglings loafed around the margins of Ferry for a week or two but by the month's end had already left for pastures new.

In rarity news the headline species of the month has been Glossy Ibis. Presumably the flock which has summered so far on the Ouse Washes moved upstream and became a regular presence in the daytime, with up to 12 birds reported at any one time. They appear to leave the site to roost in the evenings along with up to 10 Cattle Egrets. Occasionally the flock move over to Moore Lake so keep an out for them there too. Elsewhere on the reserve the following has been seen during July:

Little Ringed Plover - on Moore on 1st
Common Sandpiper - on Ferry on 3rd
Green Sandpiper - 2 on Ferry on 3rd
Turtle Dove - pair at Holywell on 4th
Corn Bunting - 2 singing males on Middle Fen on 6th
Red Kite - a good number for the reserve of 5 birds following the hay-cutting on Middle Fen on 6th
Black-tailed Godwit - 4 on Ferry on 3rd, rising to 8 on 7th
Sandwich Tern - on Ferry on 8th
Lapwing - flock increased to 80 on Ferry on 5th, 100 on Moore on 19th
Bearded Tit - on Elney on 18th
Hobby - on Elney on 18th
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 - Holywell-Ferry Road on 25th - till the month end, a scarce bird on the reserve

In other wildlife news a Marbled White butterfly was seen by Ferry on 11th and was the 3rd record for the reserve. Brown Argus and Essex Skipper butterflies have also been seen regularly between Holywell and the river. Lastly but not least, Stoats have regularly been entertaining visitors along the entrance road as they hunt Rabbits for their young.

Monthly sightings summary - June 2022

2022-07-04T08:36:00Z

With the progression into summer the focus has moved on to breeding birds. We have been doing surveys to assess population levels and there are some species having very good years including the Black-headed Gulls with over 500 pairs on Ferry Lagoon alone producing at least 100 young so far. Turtle Doves are here in good numbers this year with 6 territories thought to be present and evidence of females in 2 of them. The month was characterised by largely sunny, dry and some very warm weather which has meant water levels are dropping on the lagoons and have revealed some nice mud for waders to enjoy. The 4 Avocets which appeared in May stayed and decided to nest! It was bittersweet though, because although we got to enjoy chicks hatching in both of the nests that were laid, they fell prey to predators fairly quickly (presumably Lesser Black-backed Gulls or Crows). This was the first time in years they have nested so it was a welcome return. Some nice sightings have been had on the reserve and with a greater focus on the wider wildlife some unusual species have been recorded. Other sightings of note this month were:

Corn Buntings - up to 4 birds on Middle Fen near Webbs Hole Sluice and another along the entrance road
Glossy Ibis - singles on Ferry on 5th
Marsh Harrier - female at Holywell on 9th
Cattle Egret - 9 on Ferry on 9th
Red-crested Pochard - drake on Ferry on 19th
Red Kite - one carrying a tern off from Ferry on 21st
Bittern - 2 seen on Elney on 21st

Other wildlife

Large Skipper - Middle Fen on 7th
Painted Lady - Drayton on 8th
Norfolk Hawker - plenty on the reserve
White-legged Damselfly - small numbers on Middle Fen
Pyramidal Orchid - a single spike on Holywell, it was nibbled by rabbits quite quickly!
Bee Orchids - found in two locations, one by the Fen Drayton busway stop.

Monthly sightings summary - May 2022

2022-05-31T08:05:00Z

After such a good April it was going to be hard to keep up the pace of sightings during May. However there were still some unusual sightings around the reserve headlined by a group of 7 Glossy Ibis which called in on 26th. Other sightings of note:

Bar-tailed Godwit - on on Ferry on 1st
Goldeneye - late male on Moore on 1st
Little Ringed Plover - two on Moore on 1st
Yellow Wagtail - 3 along entrance road on 2nd
Corn Bunting - one along entrance road on 2nd
Wood Sandpiper - 2 on Ferry on 3rd
Greenshank - one on Ferry on 3rd
Arctic Tern - two on Moore on 3rd
Nightingale - one heard at Elney on 4th
Grasshopper Warbler - one still reeling on Middle Fen on 5th
Little Tern - one on Ferry on 6th
Wheatear - one along entrance road on 7th
Avocet - 4 on Moore on 7th
Red-crested Pochard - male on Moore on 7th
Cattle Egret - 5 on Ferry on 10th
Shelduck - one at Ferry on 11th
Hobby - 5 over Holywell on 12th
Tawny Owl - 2 juveniles by Drayton on 14th (expertly found by one of the Wildlife Explorers group, see photo attached)
Ringed Plover - 3 on Ferry at 19th
House Martin - 40 over Elney on 25th
Wigeon - late pair on Ferry on 25th

Things will start to quieten down in June as our established breeders raise young. Look out for feeding flights from Bitterns as we hope they have got young somewhere! At this time they can be seen as often as hourly as they search for food.

Monthly sightings summary - April 2022

2022-05-17T13:29:00Z

Simply put, April was an excellent month at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB. There were lots of new birds for the year with the expected arrival of summer-migrants that featured everything from terns to warblers, to turtle doves and waders. The 20th was a red-letter day with the reserve's first record of Savi's Warbler. It only stayed for a day and was present in a sensitive part of the reserve so news couldn't be released. Also on this date a White-tailed Eagle flew over from the Isle of Wight reintroduction project. Further species of note recorded during the month were as follows:

Little Ringed Plover - 4 on Ferry on 2nd
Knot - one on Ferry on 2hd
Ruff - one on Ferry on 2nd
Avocet - two on Ferry on 4th
Willow Warbler - first of year back at Elney on 5th
Cattle Egret - 14 in sheep field south of Elney on 5th
Brambling - 6 at Elney on 5th
Short-eared Owl - still on Middle Fen on 5th
Swallow - first of year back at Middle Fen on 5th
Black-tailed Godwit - 20 on Ferry on 7th
Green Sandpiper - one at Moore on 8th, 4 on 24th
Pink-footed Goose - one on Moore on 8th
Garden Warbler - first of year on 10th
Garganey - drake on Moore on 10th
Reed Warbler - first of year at Elney on 11th
Common Tern - first of year on Drayton on 11th
Sedge Warbler - first of year on Elney on 12th
Whitethroat - first of year along the entrance road on 13th
Grasshopper Warbler - first of year at Middle Fen on 14th, at least 7 around the reserve on 19th-20th
Common Sandpiper - first of year on Moore on 14th
Yellow Wagtail - first of year on Middle Fen on 15th
Whimbrel - one on Ferry on 15th
Cuckoo - first of year on 19th
Lesser Whitethroat - first of year at Holywell on 19th
Mediterranean Gull - two flew over Middle Fen on 20th
Grey Partridge - one at Middle Fen on 20th
Greenshank - one at Swavesey Lake on 20th
Bar-tailed Godwit - one on Moore on 21st
Little Gull - 5 on Moore on 22nd
Greater Scaup - a drake on Moore on 22nd
Sanderling - one on Moore on 23rd
Turtle Dove - one at Far Fen on 25th
Arctic Tern - two on Ferry on 25th
Spoonbill - one flew over Moore on 25th
Spotted Redshank - one on Ferry on 26th
Swift - first of year over Swavesey Lake on 28th
House Martin - first of year over Elney on 28th
Hobby - first of year over Holywell on 28th
Barnacle Goose - one over Holywell on 28th
Osprey - one over Ferry on 30th
Raven - one flew over on 30th

May promises to be another busy month for birds and birders at the reserve. Please let us know what you've seen!