Good afternoon. We have been busy with a school visit yesterday and a Wildlife Explorer's Club meeting this morning so we have all been busy embracing the spirit of adventure on the reserve. With that in mind, here are some more recent sightings:
Yesterday, we were busy entertaining around 75 school children from nearby Lakenheath Primary School. As most of my sessions were inside, I didn't see too much wildlife! However, I heard a greenshank near the Washland viewpoint while I was setting up the pond dipping area and a garden warbler was singing in the alders behind the visitor centre.. We also saw an impressive red banded sand wasp while we were doing mini beast hunting in the afternoon.
I spent some time up at the Washland viewpoint this morning and despite the fact it was raining, there was plenty to see. A male marsh harrier was hunting overhead and it was nice to see two avocets on the washland. There were six adult lapwings present and one of the pairs had a recently fledged chick with them. Two redshanks were also present and a water rail was scuttling around at the back edge of the pool.
As I walked back along the riverbank to the visitor centre, I spotted a short eared owl that was hunting just east of the Washland viewpoint which was lovely to see. One cuckoo flew over and I could hear another two males calling nearby.
Volunteer Roy went up to the Washland viewpoint shortly after we opened and saw three oystercatchers. We went and picked up the bins at the reserve entrance and as we walked along the track, we saw a coal tit and a pair of goldcrests.
I went out mini beast hunting with the reserve Wildlife Explorer's Club and we found all sorts of creatures. We saw a red banded sand wasp near the visitor centre. and two four spotted chaser dragonflies near the pond dipping area. We found a rhombic leatherbug on the approach to the Washland viewpoint and the children also spotted some smart emperor moth caterpillars just east of the viewpoint:
Image credits: David White
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, A red kite was seen south of the railway line. Volunteer Steve spent some time at New Fen viewpoint. He saw a bittern, a kingfisher and two hobbys.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are currently cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!