The sun has certainly been shining at RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes over the last few weeks. The increase in warmer weather has meant the arrival of some wonderful spring migrants. The aerial feeders such as swallows, house martins and swifts have been impressing visitors and staff alike, with their fast flight and swooping in mid air. Black terns and little gulls spent a few days feeding up on Ferry Lagoon last week and nightingales can be heard singing from the hedgerows.
Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), singing from a hawthorn bush. Image credit: John Bridges (rspb - images.com)
The warmer weather hasn’t just meant an influx in avian guests but it has also brought plenty of butterflies which have been filling the reserve with their colourful fluttering. The orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) has been very prominent around Fen Drayton Lakes of late. Good numbers have been seen flying along hedgerows and woodland margins looking for mates, nectar sources or food plants such as the lady’s smock, which is plentiful on the reserve at present.
Orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines), back - lit. Image credit: Tom Marshall (rspb - images.com)
As the weather continues to warm over the summer months, we are expecting more visitors to the reserve. We are starting to prepare for this now and will be displaying new information signs over the coming weeks. We are hoping that the information signs will not only help people to understand the important work that is done on the reserve but will help point out and direct people to species they may not have noticed before. We have also created a self led scavenger hunt sheet for families to encourage them to explore around the reserve.
Some fun events are also due to take place on the reserve this summer, with a summer holiday events programme currently being created. Two guided walks are also taking place at Ouse Fen in May. In addition on Saturday 9 May, reserve Warden Barry O’Dowd will be leading an early morning bird chorus walk and Assistant Warden Hannah Bernie will be explaining the life of bitterns on Wednesday 13 May. The Wednesday Wander every second Wednesday of the month is also still going strong and continues to be very popular with both regulars and new attendees.
Male bittern (Botaurus stellarisat) at RSPB Ouse Fen. Image credit: Hannah Bernie
For more information about events at Fen Drayton Lakes, keep checking the website for updates.