Good morning. We have had some changeable weather conditions this week so here are some more recent sightings. Starting off where I left off on Tuesday, I went up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime and found a first winter Caspian gull. Four redshanks were also present along with two shelducks.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, three different barn owls were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and Katherine also saw the adult male hen harrier from the viewpoint later on in the day. The reserve team also saw eight golden plovers flying west over New Fen North.
On Wednesday, Suzanne saw a barn owl over the far end of the reserve and Emma saw two bitterns from Joist Fen viewpoint.
Yesterday morning, I saw a roe deer on the entrance track as I drove in. I had a close encounter with a barn owl that was hunting over Brandon Fen and a woodcock flew up from the side of the path. I also saw a water pipit that was skulking around on the washland near the bend in the river.
As the day went on, a smart male lesser redpoll was on the feeders behind the visitor centre and a great white egret was showing well from the Washland viewpoint, right in the middle of a large flock of common gulls.
The reserve team were working in New Fen North. While they were working a peregrine flew over and Emma flushed a jack snipe.
I got here early this morning and took this photo of the moon shining over the visitor centre pond:
I went up to the Washland viewpoint and spotted two Bewick's swans feeding in one of the ice free patches of the large pool. Two shelducks were also standing on the ice.
As I walked along the riverbank, I took some pictures of the first light of the day:
As I got to the northern edge of East Wood, two roe deer ran along the riverbank in front of me. As I walked down towards New Fen viewpoint, a muntjac deer was grazing at the edge of the path.
The snow then started and as I walked back through the reserve, the hard track was already looking white:
...And I took this photo out of the front door of the visitor centre:
Image credits: David White
Shortly after I took this picture, a peregrine flew over the visitor centre but unfortunately, we didn't get out of the office in time to see it. Oh well!
If you are planning to visit over the next couple of days, please note that if the weather stays cold and snowy, the hard track especially is likely to remain very slippery. Also, the Environment Agency are currently in the process of cutting the vegetation alongside the riverbank Public Footpath. Please read this blog post for more information.
We hope to see you soon!