Good afternoon. We have had a couple of interesting days here so its time for another update!
Just in case you weren't aware, it was International Womens Day on Thursday. In order to celebrate this, here are a couple of pictures of some of the female members of tthe team out at work on the reserve that morning:
Warden Emma chainsawing:
Emma and Administrator Suzanne posing for the camera:
Image credits: Reserve team
In the afternoon, the reserve team did some more work on the now almost finished photography station, including putting some of the camo netting up:
Image credit: David White
In terms of wildlife, a male shoveler spent the afternoon feeding on the visitor centre pond and there were at least 25 tufted ducks feeding on the river near the Washland viewpoint. Shortly before we closed the visitor centre, a Chinese water deer appeared at the edge of the visitor centre pond which was nice to see.
I went up to the Washland viewpoint first thing yesterday morning. There were 21 tufted ducks and four little grebes feeding on the river. Five whooper swans were in front of the Washalnd viewpoint and two great white egrets were squabbling further down river.
As I walked along the extremely muddy Public Footpath, I saw a female stonechat and a common buzzard perched up on the riverbank. When I got to the stile near the first area of reedbed, I heard some cranes calling nearby.
Emma went out on the reserve in the morning and saw two cranes in flight near Joist Fen viewpoint. She also saw a bittern in flighrt over New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
As the day went on, a red kite drifted overhead and our first male garganey of the spring was reported on the river west of Joist Fen viewpoint. Presumably the same Chinese water deer from the previous day appeared at the edge of the visitor centre pond late afternoon.
Shortly after we locked up and went home, local birder Tim saw two ravens flying west over the car park. It is good to know that these locally scarce birds are still around.
There were five whooper swans feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint first thing this morning and a yellowhammer flew south over the Washland viewpoint. A water rail was also squaealing at the edge of the visitor centre pond.
I spot the morning refurbishing our "Premier Innsect" bug hotel with our reserve Wildlife Explorers Club this morning. Here is a picture of myself with some of the children in front of the bug hotel:
Image credit: Hazel Evans
At lunchtime, there was a single great white egret and four little egrets feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, volunteer Roy saw four marsh harriers and nine common buzzards from Joist Fen viewpoint. He also heard some cranes bugling near Mere Hide.
Notices
Please note that the riverbank Public Footpath between thew Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint is still very muddy. You will need wellies to negootiate it at present.
Our Ghosts of the Fens guided walk on Sunday 18 March 4pm-6.30pm is now FULLY BOOKED. Please read here for more information.
If you are not already aware, we will be changinf from a car parking charge to an entrance charge for non-members of the RSPB on Sunday 1 April. Please read here for more information.
We hope to see you soon!