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

Henry Cook
Assistant Warden – Fen Drayton Lakes