Good afternoon. I hope you are all still enjoying the hot weather (!) I will start off by posting some more bittern pictures that have been taken on the reserve recently:
Image credits: Alan Reynolds
Thank you very much to Alan for sharing these great images with us.
On Friday, a grasshopper warbler was singing near the photography station and a garden warbler was singing in East Wood. At least 25 little egrets were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint and two kingfishers were showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond. Our first red underwing moth of the year was also seen near the visitor centre.
On Saturday morning, there were at least 21 black tailed godwits and nine little egrets on the washland. A juvenile hobby was also feeding over Brandon Fen.
Volunteer John went up to the Washland viewpoint just before we opened and saw:
A kingfisher was also showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond for most of the day.
We had the pleasure of posting Chris Packham’s UK BioBlitz 2018 on Sunday. Among the many wildlife highlights of the day, perhaps the most unusual bird sighting came when local birder Steve spotted a turtle dove flight over Brandon Fen. Some of us were also lucky enough to get a photograph with Chris Packham himself!:
Image credit: Dave Rogers
If you are interested in who is in the photo, here is a list from left to right:
John Marsham (Volunteer), Roger Bacon (Volunteer), Rob Dyke (Volunteer), John Wightman (Volunteer), Me (Visitor Experience Officer), Janet Bacon (Volunteer) Chris Packham (Obviously!), Julia Bamonte (Volunteer), Karen Langley (Volunteer), Su Easter (Volunteer), Emma Cuthbertson (Warden), Chris Bowden (Area Manager for Cambridgeshire & the Fens), Roy Largeant (Volunteer), Roger Horton (Volunteer), Dave Rogers (Site Manager)
Thank you very much to all of the volunteers who helped on the day, we couldn’t have run the event without their help!
On Monday, Suzanne saw a family of sparrowhawks in Brandon Fen. On Tuesday, Warden Katherine found our first wasp spider of the year at the far end of the reserve. Although it wasn’t near a part of the reserve that is open to the public, it is well worth looking for this species from now on as there may well be some near public paths!
I lead a group of children round the reserve yesterday and one of them spotted several buff tip moth caterpillars feeding on Frederick our willow dragon:
Image credit: David White
We also found an impressive elephant hawkmoth caterpillar near the visitor centre.
I had a pleasant surprise this morning when I got up to the Washland viewpoint: A juvenile spoonbill was feeding in front of the viewpoint! This species is pretty scarce here so it was nice to see it. At least seven black tailed godwits were feeding near it and a ringed plover was flying around over the pool, calling as it went.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are still cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon.