Good morning. This week can moreorless be summed up in pictures, so here we go:
It wasn't too bad a day on Tuesday and Matt Walton took this lovely landscape shot from New Fen viewpoint:
The great white egret was also present on the washland, looking as elegant as ever:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Meanwhile, closer to the visitor centre, there was some excitement when a water pipit was ringed near the visitor centre:
Image credit: Lee Gregory
According to Simon, our local bird ringer, this is only the twenty sixth water pipit ever to be ringed in Suffolk and it may well be the first ever to be ringed in West Suffolk!
Another feature of this week has been mist and fog. Here is a picture of the sun rising yesterday above a halo of mist:
Image credit: David White
Last but by no means least, the local bearded tits have been showing exceptionally well this week so here is a lovely picture of one from New Fen viewpoint yesterday:
Image credit: Matt Walton
Thank you very much to Matt and Lee for sharing these great pictures with us!
The great white egret has been around all week and tends to favour the pools in front of the Washland viewpoint. As well as showing well in front of New Fen viewpoint, there is also a flock of around 20 bearded tits in Brandon Fen. They were showing exceptionally well on Wednesday morning... if only I had a better camera (and I was a better photographer!) Your best chance of seeing water pipits is from the Washland viewpoint.
There are plenty of other things to look out for. I saw bitterns (or a bittern) out on the reserve two days running, which is exceptionally unusual for me. One flew into the grazing marsh in Brandon Fen on Wednesday and one flew west along the river yesterday. I was lucky enough to watch yesterday's bird for around five minutes, as it flapped slowly across New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
An otter was seen from Mere Hide on Wednesday and there were plenty of signs of this elusive creature on the riverbank yesterday morning. The male hen harrier has been seen most evenings this week and Dave had a great view of it from Joist Fen viewpoint yesterday afternoon.
Please note that due to calendar constraints, this is probably going to be my last recent sightings post until next Friday so I look forward to posting again soon!
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon.