January can seem a bit of a bleak month, but last weekend was proof that once you wrap up warm and get outdoors there's lots to enjoy!
On Saturday evening we were lucky with the weather and able to go ahead with our two stargazing sessions, each fully booked and highly anticipated following the airing of BBC Stargazing Live last week (follow the link to download your free stargazing booklet).
Our guide to the skies for the night was Neil Parker, former Deputy Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Neil generously shared his time, expertise, and enormous telescopes to give us a tour of the universe from the heart of the reserve. Fen Drayton Lakes is spectacular on a clear night as there is very little light pollution. We saw Jupiter with several of its moons in orbit, and a personal highlight was looking at the Orion Nebula with binoculars for the first time - try it!
On Sunday the sun came out in the afternoon and we put our own telescopes and binoculars to good use showing visitors some of the fantastic wildlife around the reserve.
Image: Waxwing by Steve Dobromylski
In the morning a couple of waxwings hung around enjoying the rose hips just after the bridge on the entrance track. These plump, crested birds come to Britain in winter from Scandinavia and if you're lucky you may spot them unexpectedly close to home. They pop up wherever there are berries to eat - supermarket car parks, for example, if ornamental rowan trees have been planted!
A Slavonian grebe, a Caspian gull and 16-18 Bewick's swans put in an appearance on Ferry Lagoon over the course of the day.
Three goosanders caused a bit of a ruckus on Drayton Lagoon - two males having a scrap over a female with lots of flapping and splashing.
Slightly less obvious were a bullfinch, goldcrests, a pintail and some lesser redpolls. A sudden burst of song alerted us to a Cetti's warbler nearby, one lucky visitor spotted a kingfisher flashing past, and we continued to see big flocks of black-tailed godwits flying over. Goldeneyes, redwings and fieldfares, and a sparrowhawk and a marsh harrier all added to a great day.
Image: Mute swan by Neil Dethridge
If you're leaving the reserve around dusk, keep a good lookout as you drive back along the entrance track to the public road. A barn owl has frequently been spotted hunting in the fields to either side of the last stretch, between the bridge and the road. A magical sight with the fading light and fog...
Finally, if you have any pretty photos of Fen Drayton in the snow, please do post them on the community forum - it's a pleasure for us and other visitors to be able to see them too.
Alison Nimmo
RSPB Community Engagement Officer, Orkney