I thought I would post a quick update with some sightings of note from the reserve this week. Chris, project manager, and Hannah, assistant warden, were lucky enough to see a bittern on Elney Lake on Monday when they were out in the boat surveying the islands. This is the second sighting in 2 weeks as a very excited visitor reported one last weekend, I have yet to see one but fingers crossed I will soon. I saw my first Kingfisher of the year on Wednesday whilst walking around carrying out an infrastructure audit, I don't think you can ever grow tired of seeing that flash of blue darting low across the water.
The first wheatear of the autumn was seen last week at Ouse fen, it was a young male looking splendid in its pale orange plumage and did not seem bothered at all with us close by in the truck.
A group of 10 Egyptian geese were around yesterday on Far Fen, they are always an interesting sight, they are related to the shelduck and were escapees from and ornamental collection. More information on the website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/e/egyptiangoose/index.aspx
The dragonflies are still making their presence known with some southern and migrant hawkers seen on the guided walk yesterday.
If you see anything of note when you are out and about on the reserve then please let us know by posting on the recent sightings thread on the forum.
Thanks
Pete
23/02/2015
Third field on right of entrance road after windmill track,
Lots and lots of,
Linnets
Yellowhammers
Meadow Pipits
Reed Buntings
Chaffinches
Carrion Crow,
Buzzard on haystack on left,
Also,
Bittern over new scrape, and,
Single Little Egret catching very large Perch in new scrape, lots of Wigeon,
Several Snipe on island.
05/03/2015
Barn Owl at SW corner of Ferry at 11.15
08/03/2015
Barn Owl heaven this evening,
3 Barn Owls hunting on both sides of entrance road
Buzzard in new orchard
Several Hares in usual field
Green Woodpecker buzzing Barn Owl on new scrape meadow
09/07/2015
Red Kite hunting along entrance road at 11.15 today.
10/07/2015
Roe Deer on entrance road at 11.30am and a unidendified Raptor at 11.45am across entrance road, a picture on gallery later.
Huge Funnel Web spider in main car park hedge.
07/08/2015
Bittern over Swavesey High Street at Old Taylor's store and Swavesey College this afternoon heading towards the lakes.