Good morning. It has been another great week at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. I have been sent some fantastic pictures this week so here are a few that have been taken on the reserve. Here is a painted lady butterfly taken by Tim James:
Image credit: Tim James
Local photographer Matt Walton captured these two lovely images this week:
Two red eyed damselflies:
Two juvenile bearded tits on the boardwalk approaching Mere Hide:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Ian Tulloch photographed these fantastic dragonflies on Wednesday:
An emperor dragonfly:
A brown hawker:
Image credits: Ian Tulloch
Thank you very much to Tim, Matt and Ian for sharing their pictures with us!
I lead "The Long Walk" on Sunday, which is a 10 kilometre walk around the vast majority of the reserve. On the outward journey, we came across two cranes, a great white egret and a green sandpiper feeding around the same pool. Although they were not visible from paths that are open to the public, they would have been very visible to anybody who happened to be passing the reserve on the train at that particular moment!
When we returned from our trip "off piste", we had a great view of a bittern in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint and two juvenile bearded tits were feeding on the grit tray in front of New Fen viewpoint. We also saw a stoat gambolling along the track alongside East Wood and several roe deer browsing at the edge of the poplar woods.
The next "Long Walk" will take place on Sunday 21 September and details on how to book places can be found here.
The great white egret was back in public view on Monday. it was on the washland north of West Wood along with a green sandpiper.
There was plenty to see on Wednesday and the great white egret was seen from various places during the day. Katherine went up to the Washland viewpoint and lunchtime and found six black tailed godwits feeding in the large pool. Unfortunately, they didn't stick around as they were flushed by a passing peregrine.
I came down for a walk after work on Wednesday evening and had fantastic views of two barn owls hunting near Joist Fen viewpoint. I also saw a juvenile cuckoo perched up between Joist Fen viewpoint and Mere Hide.
We were treated to a slightly bizarre sight from the office window yesterday afternoon: Six jays were hopping out on the lawn outside the visitor centre. They were obviously a family party and certainly helped to brighten up our afternoons!
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!