Good morning. Members of the mustelid family (that includes stoats, weasels and also badgers) have featured quite prominently here at Lakenheath Fen this week. I will start with some pictures of the local stoats:
Here are some pictures of the partially ermine individual:
Image credits: Trev Tabram
...And here is a picture of a more summery looking individual leaping through the air:
Image credit: Matt Walton
There have also been plenty of other things to see, including this directionally challenged barn owl:
...And this large Canada goose:
Image credits: David Gowing
Thank you very much to Trev, Matt and David for sharing their great images with us!
I walked around Brandon Fen on Monday morning and saw a chiffchaff. Although it could have been a summer migrant, it may well have been one of the individuals that has overwintered on the reserve.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, volunteer Gill saw a bittern swimming across the pool on front of Joist Fen viewpoint. She also saw two great white egrets “interacting” on the washland.
On Tuesday, Suzanne saw her first Lakenheath Fen kingfisher of the year at New Fen viewpoint. Volunteer Paul saw a great white egret and a bittern from the washland viewpoint.
Katherine and Emma were working down at the far end of the reserve and they saw a small tortoiseshell butterfly on the wing. This is the first “spring” butterfly record of the year here, which is very exciting indeed!
I woke up early yesterday morning so I had a pleasant walk down to Joist Fen viewpoint before work. There were two great white egrets on the washland and just before I got to the western edge of West Wood, two cranes flew south over Joist Fen viewpoint, before landing south of the railway line.
At least nine whooper swans flew north in front of Joist Fen viewpoint and a yellowhammer was singing near the viewpoint. A water rail scurried across the ditch in front of me and I flushed a common snipe near the track down to Mere Hide.
There was a moment of drama outside the visitor centre later on in the day: A weasel almost caught a rabbit on the lawn in front of the visitor centre. The scene was soon attended by two magpies so it seems that the lucky rabbit lived to see another day!
I went for a walk around Brandon Fen in the sunshine this morning and although it was fairly quiet, I heard at least three different treecreepers singing and a kingfisher on the washland.
We hope to see you soon!
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