What a busy few weeks it has been at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes. I spent my first day on the reserve yesterday, meeting and greeting visitors and showing them the wonderful wildlife that Fen Drayton Lakes has to offer. It was brilliant to see so many people out and about enjoying the reserve and I particularly liked how one little girl became very excited on hearing a cuckoo. I do love it when children get excited about nature.
As expected, lots of wonderful migrants have been spoiling us with their presence. The swallows and swifts are very visible above the lakes and the common terns are showing lots of interest in the newly launched tern rafts. Cetti’s warblers (pronounced chetty) can be heard singing in the hedgerows all around the reserve. Cetti's warblers signal their presence with loud songs that are very distinct and come in loud bursts. Their song plays an important role by attracting females and the unique structure allows them to avoid mating with other species. I love the loud bursts of song that these small, sulky birds produce, my friend describes it as sounding like a didgeridoo.
At least three Cuckoos can also be heard on the reserve, one was calling near Ferry Lagoon yesterday afternoon. I always think Cuckoos are fascinating birds. They are summer visitors to the UK and well-known brood parasites, the females laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, especially meadow pipits, dunnocks and reed warblers. I hope to catch a glimpse of one of these rare, sleek birds soon.
Cuckoo, newly hatched chick ejecting reed warbler eggs from nest. Image credit: Mike Richards (rspb-images.com)
I was also listening too and watching another migrant that has blessed us with its presence, a male common whitethroat. This small passerine bird decided to conveniently perch on a bush in front of the car park, singing away. The whitethroat’s song is fast and often described a nasally, sounding like wed-wed or woid woid.
Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) singing from a bramble bush. Image credit: John Bridges (rspb- images.com)
The summer events programme has now been developed and some fun and exciting events are on the cards for the school summer holidays. I have only been in post a short while but I am leaving to undertake a warden internship at RSPB Otmoor. My last day at Fen Drayton Lakes will be Thursday 21st May but a wonderful replacement has already been found and the arrival of Sarah Osborne on the 25th May will ensure the summer events are a wonderful success.