Good morning. Although the weather has been patchy this week, it’s a gorgeous morning this morning so it’s time for some recent sightings. I will begin with this photo of a wheatear that Site Manager Dave took on the reserve at the end of last week:
Image credit: Dave Rogers
Thank you very much to Dave for sharing this great picture with us.
I will start where I left off and begin with some sightings from Sunday. I was very pleased to find two avocets in front of the Washland viewpoint first thing. This was not only my one hundredth species of bird for my 2016 RSPB Lakenheath Fen bird list, it was also a reserve tick for me as I have never seen this elegant species here in the last seven years that I have worked here.
A barn owl was hunting over the washland and four shelducks were feeding in the large pool. I walked around Trial Wood and spooked two roe deer. There were also several bramblings singing in the wood.
As the day went on 30 sand martins and a swallow were feeding over New Fen viewpoint. A pair of cranes also flew over the viewpoint. Our first yellow wagtail of the year flew over Joist Fen viewpoint and a peregrine was seen west of the viewpoint.
A herd of 12 roe deer were seen along the entrance track and two garganeys were seen from New Fen viewpoint. A bittern also flew over the grazing marsh in Brandon Fen.
It was really rather damp yesterday morning but there were still several sedge warblers singing in Brandon Fen. A couple of willow warblers were singing near the visitor centre and an oystercatcher flew along the river.
It brightened up at lunchtime and Dave and I had lunch with a colleague at New Fen viewpoint. We could hear two different bitterns booming and three cranes flew out of the reedbed in front of the viewpoint towards Mere Hide. A smart male marsh harrier was hunting over the reedbed and a common toad was croaking nearby.
It was a lovely morning this morning and there were at least five roe deer grazing alongside the entrance track as I drove in. I went out armed with my camera and here are some of my pictures. I hope you like them:
Image credits: David White
A willow warbler was singing in the alders behind the visitor centre and several blackcaps were singing near the visitor centre. Two oystercatchers flew west along the river and I could hear at least two bitterns booming near New Fen viewpoint. There were also cranes bugling near Mere Hide.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!