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
Little unusual to report except a juvenile male Red-crested Pochard that was on Ferry Lagoon at the end of last week and into the weekend, while a Great White Egret dropped into Ouse Fen while I was carrying out the Wetland Bird Survey count there last Saturday.
However, there are some excellent mixed warbler / tit flocks around the car park area at Fen Drayton that are worth keeping an eye on - I've seen up to 9 species of warblers with them, including up to 4 Lesser Whitethroats in one flock and good numbers of Willow Warblers - several of them giving short bursts of song.
Cheers
Richard
Thanks Richard, I will keep my eyes and ears out for the warblers.
14/08/2014
From bailey bridge new scrape,
6 Egiptian Geese
Little Grebe
Little Egret
Mallard ducklings
Grey Heron
From main car park,
Great White Egret flying from East towards Moore Lake
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Water Rail
Goldcrest
Green woodpeckers
Whitethroats
Reed Buntings
Treecreeper
Bullfinch
Wren
There are a lot of Dragonflies and Butterflies at the moment, I also observed a large flock of Godwits from the main car park.
19/08/2014
Yellow Wagtail x 6
Hobby
Black-Tailed Godwit
28/08/2014
Otter, Bailey Bridge.
Red Kite, entrance road.
Kingfisher.
Buzzard x 5.
Kestrel.
Green Woodpecker.
Long Tail Tits.
Hundreds of Dragonflies.
29/08/2014
Hobby x 2
Yellowhammers
02/09/2014
Bittern - two sightings
Kingfishers x 2 feeding on the new scrape
Kingfishers x 2 on Ferry Lagoon
Snipe
10/10/2014
Marsh Harrier
Kingfisher x 2 on felled tree on South West corner on Ferry Lagoon
27/10/2014
Marsh Harrier x 2 together
Dragonflies
Lots of Hornets
Linnets
29/10/2014
Marsh Harrier x 3, Male & Female together & another Female.