Good morning. As Katherine mentioned in her blog post from last week, I have been away in sunnier climes. I therefore had to put my hat and gloves on when I ventured out on the reserve for the first time yesterday morning!
I will try and pick things up where Katherine left off but I will start by sharing some great pictures that Matt Walton took here while I was away:
Bearded tits:
Great white egret:
The Washland:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Thank you very much to Matt for sharing these great pictures with us.
A great white egret was on the washland on 26 September along with an otter. The osprey was also seen for the last time from the Washland viewpoint.
The great white egret was again present on the washland on 27 September along with presumably the same otter. A bittern was also seen from the Washland viewpoint.
Three buzzards were over the visitor centre on 29 September along with two hobbys. A great white egret was also on the washland.
Also of interest, my father and I went to Burwell Fen, which is part of Wicken Fen NNR on 30 September. Three very familiar cranes flew over, which turned out to be one of the pairs that nested here this year along with their youngster. It was good to see them and nice to know that they aren’t too far away.
I went for a walk down to New Fen viewpoint yesterday morning and I saw a kingfisher whizzing along the river. A chiffchaff was singing in the big willow near the visitor centre along with a Cetti’s warbler. A lesser redpoll also flew over New Fen viewpoint.
As the day went on, a great white egret was seen from the Washland viewpoint. Two juvenile hobbys were seen from New Fen viewpoint and a bittern was seen from Mere Hide.
I went for a walk around Brandon Fen this morning and there were two goldcrests flitting around. One was singing which was nice to hear. A chiffchaff was also singing nearby and a marsh tit was calling at the end of the ramp.
I spent some time at the Washland viewpoint and a lesser redpoll flew over. A flock of 13 lapwings were swirling around and a common snipe also flew over.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!