Good morning. The wind has finally dropped (a bit!) so it is time for some more recent sightings:
On Thursday, a female marsh harrier flew over the visitor centre pond and a grey heron spent some time fishing in the pond. I popped up to the Washland viewpoint mid-afternoon and spotted a smart great crested grebe feeding on the river.
I had a good walk around the reserve on Friday morning and I spotted presumably the same (!) Australian shoveler that was seen last Wednesday on the river near the Washland viewpoint. A kingfisher flew across the river and a great white egret that was moulting into breeding plumage was feeding just west of the viewpoint.
As I walked along the river, there was a nice contrast between winter and summer: 17 redwings flew south and a chiffchaff was singing at the edge of East Wood. A green woodpecker was calling in East Wood and two roe deer were feeding north of the river.
Site Manager Dave and I went down the reserve mid-morning and we had a great view of two cranes in flight. At least seven marsh harriers were hunting overhead and although we didn’t see it ourselves, apparently, a peregrine flew right over our heads while we were out!
Although it was breezy yesterday, Dave saw a peregrine over New Fen viewpoint. A marsh tit was also showing well on the feeders behind the visitor centre.
I went out for a walk this morning and took my camera with me. Here are some pictures of the reserve bathed in some lovely (and rarely seen recently) sunshine:
Image credits: David White
At least four redshanks and an oystercatcher were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint. A great white egret flew east along the river and a green woodpecker was calling in East Wood. As I was walking back through the reserve, a redpoll flew south overhead and a chiffchaff was singing in East Wood.
If you are planning the reserve, please note that the path alongside West Wood is currently very wet. You will need wellies to negotiate it at present. Parts of the riverbank Public Footpath are also muddy, so walking boots are recommended for using this path at present. The rest of the reserve paths are currently OK.
Also, just in case you haven’t heard, we will be increasing the entrance charge for non-members of the RSPB on 1 April 2019. Please read here for more information.
We hope to see you on the reserve soon!