It has been a good week for sightings here at Lakenheath Fen. There was plenty to see on Sunday. Things started well when two grey partridges flew south over the railway line and the great egret was showing well in front of the washland viewpoint. A female pintail was on the washland pool and a total seven Bewick's swans flew west over the reserve (two family parties.) Katherine and Paul struck it lucky when they found a jack snipe down in Botany Bay while they were doing the WeBs count.
As the day went on, a very late small tortoiseshell was still on the wing near the visitor centre and a barn owl was seen over the washland. There was also a report of a single crane flying over the reedbed in front of Joist Fen viewpoint. The sunset was pretty spectacular and even the vapour trails were echoing over the visitor centre pond:
Image credit: David White
There was some excitement on Monday when a female goldeneye was found on the washland. This is quite an unusual sighting for the reserve so it was well appreciated. A stonechat was also showing well in front of the washland viewpoint.
We had our first hard frost of the winter on Wednesday morning and here is a picture of Brandon Fen looking distinctly wintery:
A flock of 13 lapwings were wheeling around over the washland and the great egret was seen on the washland north of East Wood. In fact, it hasn't been seen since so it may well have departed after its stay of over three weeks! There was more redpoll related entertainment when one of our local bird ringers brought in a selection to try and identify! This included a couple of lesser redpolls and at least five common (or mealy) redpolls.
I walked around New Fen North yesterday morning and saw my first "Lakenheath Fen" bittern for several months. Even though it was flying right into the sun, it was still great to see. A female marsh harrier was hunting over the reedbed and several bearded tits were pinging nearby.
Later on in the day, there was another report of a single crane in flight near Joist Fen viewpoint which is an encouraging site. Our first male hen harrier of the winter was hunting over the west end of the reserve during the late afternoon and Dave also saw a probable peregrine over West Wood. While they were driving back, they saw a barn owl being mobbed by a carrion crow.
This morning, I saw two roe deer on the hard track north of Trial Wood and at least five bramblings were feeding in the wood itself. We hope to see you soon!