We had a very enjoyable guided walk this morning.  The blue-winged teal had gone, but we saw the two avocets back on the site, and also had our first sighting this year of a redshank chick.  The latter was feeding some distance from its parent, although it still has some growing to do before it will be able to fly.

Damselflies and dragonflies were everywhere, with multiple sightings of scarce chaser dragonflies, but the…

One of our volunteers discovered a drake blue-winged teal yesterday, on Ferry Mere.  The bird is still there today, usually in the company of a couple of common teals.  This is a North American species, which makes you wonder how it got to Cambridgeshire!

Two logobirds (aka avocets) were seen on the Far Fen scrape, adjacent to our entrance road this morning.

Dragon and damselflies were fairly easy to spot in the gloomy weather, becoming more active as the sun came out.  We also saw a red admiral, little egret and marsh harrier, and interesting selection of bugs on this morning's workshop.

I've heard a female cuckoo in recent mornings - until then, I'd only heard the…

Cold rain yesterday, wind and sun today - so Spring is still here after all.  The wind has made birdwatching quite challenging today, as most birds seemed to be taking shelter.

80 bird species were recorded by 5pm, so they were there if you looked or listened.  You could hear Cetti's and garden warblers, cuckoos and bitterns quite easily, but seeing them was a different matter altogether.

For many of today's visitors…

The other day, I thought it felt like spring.  Today has definitely been a summer's day.

There weren't many people about today - was it too hot for them ? - but visitors still managed to record 80 bird species.  The last one added to the list was a black tern, found flying and feeding with our common terns.  Our first scarce chaser dragonfly of 2010 was found today too.

Searching the edges of the lakes, you can now…

The weather was grim here on Saturday, but it meant that insect-catchers suchs as swifts, swallows and martins were hunting their food very low over the lakes.  It was virtually impossible to count how many swifts we had.  100....200?  If only they would sit still and be counted!

Every now and then, a swift would come tearing through the car park at shoulder height, as if they were on a dare to get as close as possible…

It's cold.  It's wet.  It's windy.  It must be another Bank Holiday.

It was our Dawn Chorus event this morning too.  Despite the weather, a dozen people made the effort to get up early.   They put some of the birds to shame.  Several people in the group heard their first cuckoo of 2010 before we had set off from the car park.

There were some (short) sunny spells and birds responded by singing well, at least until…

We had a lovely walk this morning for our event, which was called "What's that warbler".  We'd heard five different species before we'd even left the car park, including a grasshopper warbler,.  This one was expected to be the most troublesome, as they are fairly quiet, scarce and sing at a pitch that is too high for some people to hear.  Garden warblers proved elusive, and blackcaps were much quieter…

Phew!  It has been hot and sunny, with lots of people out for a walk.  Some even had binoculars with them.  Many of them signed the RSPB's Letter to the Future.

87 different bird species were recorded at Fen Drayton Lakes today, which equals our best one-day tally.  They included 10 species of warbler, yellow wagtail, wheatear, house martin, little gull, whimbrel, garganey and marsh harrier.  Just for a moment, we thought…

Today's tally of wildlife sightings finished on 75 bird species, counting pied & white wagtail as one.  An osprey and two ravens were highlights for some lucky observers, but we also had some smashing views of a male marsh harrier.  A grasshopper warbler was singing again today, with a few common whitethroats.  Other records included a small pike in a ditch, four butterfly species and a grass snake. 

Another lovely day to be out, starting with another survey of breeding wildfowl.  At least 3 common whitethroats have arrived and begun singing, as has one grasshopper warbler.  Blackcaps now seem to be in every scrubby patch, and sedge warblers are singing in a few reed patches.

68 bird species, 4 butterfly species, three mammal species and one fish were recorded today - the fish was a small eel, carried by a mink.

The alarm went off just after 5 o'clock this morning.  Time to get up and do my first breeding bird survey of 2010, and what a brilliant morning to start the new season.

Mist was hanging over the lakes, hardly any higher than the reed tops, but not for long.  A huge red sun soon popped up over the eastern horizon and cleared away the mist, and encouraged birds to sing.  Many migrants are still on their way here, but…

It seemed colder and windier than recent days, an dbirds seemed to be taking shelter.  however, the male wheatear was still entertaining us at the car park.  He had a bit of competition, as two little ringed plovers were there too, and the yellow wagtails continued to delight visitors, with parties in two different areas of the site.

2 avocets arrived this afternoon - our first of the year.  5 stunning yellow wagtails and a white wagtail were not far from the car park, but a smart  male wheatear was even closer.  Swallows, house and sand martins were whizzing over the lakes, and warblers were doing their best to ignore the cold wind - Cetti's, willow and sedge warblers, chiffchaff and blackcap.  Goldeneyes were displaying and a little grebe was "singing…

a female marsh harrier was seen here yesterday evening, and again this morning.  we're hoping this is half of the pair that nested successfully here last year, and that her mate will turn up soon

Early reports from Good Friday morning include our first yellow wagtail and sedge warblers for 2010.  Wheatears, swallows and sand martins are here too.  Chiffchaffs, willow warblers and Cetti's warblers are all singing, despite the wind.  The cool wind will not be good for spotting insects such as bumblebees and butterflies today, but the lesser celandines are blooming and ready for the bees.

Our first house martin has been spotted today by a regular visitor, a week after the first willow warbler was heard singing.  Two wheatears were right next to the car park this morning. Sand martins, swallows and wheatears have been seen in the past few days too.  Chiffchaffs and Cetti's warblers have been singing for a while now, and goldeneys have been doing their vigourous courtship displays.

I'm hoping the weather…