Good afternoon. It was eight years ago to the day that I started here at RSPB Lakenheath Fen as a a "green" but enthusiast 23 year old on a six month contract as Community Information Officer. If you asked me whether I would still be here (albeit in a different role) eight years later I probably wouldn't have believed you! The rest as they say is history though so here are the latest recent sightings, from Sunday morning until now.
There were plenty of bearded tits around and volunteer Paul Holness saw a flock of 21 feeding in the reeds close to the style in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed. He also saw three swallows and eight little egrets.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, a Chinese water deer was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and a bittern was seen from Mere Hide. The leucistic wren was again seen in New Fen North and an unidentified newt species was photographed near the visitor centre. It was either a smooth newt or a palmate newt and I am just awaiting confirmation from somebody who knows their amphibians!
On Tuesday, a kingfisher was fishing at the edge of the visitor centre pond and volunteer Paul found a great white egret in front of the Washland viewpoint. Emma a Paul did the monthly WeBs count and they say at least two bitterns and two bearded tits at the far end of the reserve.
Meanwhile, ringers Simon and Pete counted 45 redwings flying over Brandon Fen along with at least one brambling. They also saw a female sparrowhawk and a kingfisher.
I returned after a couple of days off yesterday and as I drove in, I flushed a woodcock off of the entrance track. I saw the great white egret in front of the Washland viewpoint along with five little egrets and two stonechats were feeding nearby. A female marsh harrier also flew over. I took a couple of pictures while I was out and about in Brandon Fen:
The grazing marsh from the riverbank:
A couple of species of fungi:
Image credits: David White
Hopefully, some better images will accompany the next blog post (!)
I walked down the riverbank this morning and I saw the great white egret feeding on the washland with four little egrets. Some bearded tits were calling in the reedbed alongside the river and a kingfisher flew over New Fen North. As the morning has gone on, six siskins flew over the visitor centre and a goldcrest was feeding near the bird feeders.
The volunteer work party have been putting out signs for our Race for Wildlife on Sunday and while they have been out, they saw two bitterns over Joist Fen viewpoint and a kingfisher near Mere Hide.
Just to reiterate, our Race for Wildlife on Sunday is FULLY BOOKED. The reserve and car park are likely to be very busy from around 10am-3pm. Therefore, if you are planning to visit on Sunday, we strongly recommend that you either come earlier or later on in the day.
We hope to see you soon!