It’s hard to believe that for the last few days the reserve has been basking in sunshine and ever increasing temperatures, as today the skies are dark, rain is falling and thunder is grumbling!
As I headed down the reserve this morning to check the route for this Sunday’s Ramblers Ramble event (more details below!) there was a definite feel of autumn in the air. Despite the rain showers, juvenile marsh harriers were soaring over the reedbeds and little egrets were making the most of the increasing water levels in the grazing marsh.
Also braving the elements today was volunteer Catherine, who wandered down to Joist Fen and was rewarded with an osprey flying overhead! We’ve had regular sightings of osprey over the last week with the washland viewpoint and New Fen seeming to be the best spots. However, despite my best efforts, including running up to the washland numerous times in one day, I have yet to see an osprey at Lakenheath Fen!
Osprey (Image credit - Christine Nelson)
Having been away from the reserve for the last few days, I eagerly checked the sightings sheet when I got in to see exactly what I’ve missed....
The washland continues to be a great spot for waders, with sightings of greenshank (up to three birds), green sandpiper (up to five birds), ruff, dunlin, common sandpiper and curlew sandpiper (last seen on the 11th).
The waders have been joined by hobby, marsh harrier, kingfisher and garganey throughout the week, so it’s most definitely worth a visit up there. It’s also worth a wander around Brandon Fen as there have been sightings of sparrowhawk and green woodpecker around the trail.
Records from New Fen viewpoint have included marsh harrier, up to three kingfishers, and on Sunday, a weasel and clouded yellow butterfly.
Clouded yellow (Image credit - Tim James)
The kingfishers seem to quite like the new look of the visitor centre pool and are making the most of the extra perches put in. They really are spoiled for choice for fishing spots now!
The usual suspects (blue tits, great tits, goldfinches, reed buntings and greenfinches) have been visiting the feeders outside the centre, with welcome additions of chiffchaff and blackcap on Wednesday.
As I write this a sparrowhawk has just been spotted sat in one of the willows at the back of the visitor centre pool, needless to say the feeders were deserted very quickly! Volunteers Roger, Roy and Norman are keeping a close eye out for its return!
We’ll be looking out for all this wildlife and more on our Rambler’s Ramble event this Sunday. Walking a roughly 10km route around the reserve, and heading into areas away from the usual visitor trails, you never know what we might find...
Full details of how to book on can be found here – there’s still plenty of places left!
Rambling along! (Image credit - Emma Cuthbertson)