Good morning. I will begin with an apology: I didn’t post any images in my last recent sightings blog post. I hope you all accept my apology and rest assured, images will be back with a vengeance in today’s post!
I went for a walk down to New Fen viewpoint before work yesterday morning. Here is the view towards Hockwold church:
I heard kingfishers near the Washland viewpoint and near the visitor centre. There were plenty of gatekeepers on the wing along the riverbank and a chiffchaff was singing in the big willow near the visitor centre.
When I got to New Fen viewpoint, I was very pleased to find two juvenile bearded tits feeding on the grit tray in front of the viewpoint. As I walked back through the reserve, I spooked a buck roe deer that was skulking around the Fen pools.
I had to pop out mid morning to change some signs over and while I was out, I saw a brown hawker and a hornet mimic hoverfly alongside the hard track near the Fen pools. I also saw several ringlets.
As the day went on, Katherine, Emma and Rob went to count marsh carpet moth caterpillars down at the far end of the reserve. While they were down there, they saw four cranes in flight just west of Joist Fen viewpoint.
When they returned, they apprehended a Roesel’s bush cricket that was attempting to gain entry to the visitor centre:
In the afternoon, this red admiral was busy feeding on the buddleia in front of the visitor centre:
Towards the end of the day, I was summoned out into the visitor centre to identify a “dragonfly” that was perching on the visitor centre window. Closer scrutiny found that it was not a dragonfly, it was a damselfly! Here are some pictures of it:
Image credits: David White
It turned out to be a willow emerald damselfly. This species was only recorded on the reserve for the first time last September, so it is fantastic news that it is on the wing here again this year. Hopefully, there will be plenty more on the wing between now and the end of September. Congratulations to volunteer Roy who initially alerted me to its presence!
If you are planning to visit the reserve this weekend, I would just like to reiterate the two notices that I posted at the end of Thursday’s blog post:
Firstly, due to the fact that kingfishers have been showing very well from Mere Hide recently, it has been very popular with birdwatchers and photographers alike. There is limited seating, so while using the hide, please be considerate to your fellow hide users. During busy times, if you have been in the hide for a while, and someone comes in, please consider giving up your seat to give someone else the opportunity to watch wildlife.
Secondly as part of our summer holidays family fun day on Sunday, there will be a bird ringing demonstration taking place weather permitting. Everyone is welcome to have a look in if you are here so fingers crossed the weather will be kind! Please read this blog post for more information.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!