Weekend wildlife

Well, it’s been a mixed weekend on the reserve – a mild Saturday followed by heavy rain overnight, sunshine, a biting wind and rising floodwater. The unexpected emergence of a peacock butterfly seemed to echo my confusion as to how many layers I should have on.

The lakes were alive with coots, wigeons, shovelers, pochards, gadwalls, tufted ducks, a teal, a few goldeneyes and goosanders, several pintails and three smews (one drake and two redheads on Far Fen Lake). The grebe family was well-represented, with little grebes, great crested grebes, and a Slavonian grebe all hanging out on Ferry Lagoon.

A yellow-legged gull was spotted on Saturday. Goldcrests, goldfinches, linnets, bullfinches, a dunnock, lesser redpolls, a reed bunting, meadow pipit, redwings and fieldfares, and a skylark were all added to the wildlife sightings list over the course of Sunday.

Lapwing by canoncolin

Sharper eyes than mine spotted a water rail and a brambling too, while from the hide several snipe were visible on the islands in Moore Lake. Flocks of lapwings were in the air, always a lovely sight, and we continue to have plenty of black-tailed godwits around.

Closer to the ground, the rabbits were out and about, no doubt thankful the snow’s gone.

Thanks to everyone who's been sharing their wildlife sightings and photographs on community forum - much appreciated.