A new bird for the reserve year list caused a bit of a stir on Tuesday - a report of a spoonbill on the washland had staff and volunteers making a mad dash up there to check it out!
For the last couple of years spoonbill sightings here at Lakenheath have been birds in flight (a right time, right place situation!) so to have one on the ground was an exciting prospect. Thankfully, we were not disappointed and straight away managed to spot our not often seen visitor, feeding on the edge of the washland.
Tuesday's spoonbill (Dave Rogers)
The bird clearly roosted on the reserve, and, even more impressively was joined by another later on in the morning!
Wednesday's spoonbill double act (Dave Rogers)
Unfortunately, there’s been no sign of them since lunchtime on Wednesday, but we’re keeping a close eye out for them…..
The washland has also had a good selection of waders in the last few days, including three ringed plover, two dunlin, six snipe, four ruff, one black-tailed godwit and a couple of hundred of lapwing.
Further down the reserve, there was a very late swift over Joist Fen viewpoint, with house martins, on the 20th September. Swallows are clearly on the move with a passage of 400 over Joist Fen on the same day! A single spotted flycatcher, mixed in with a tit flock in West Wood added to that days recording - thanks to local birder Steve for the above sightings.
Wildfowl numbers have started to increase noticeably with 260 gadwall, 165 teal, 46 shoveler, up to 20 wigeon and a couple of pintail (news just in of these this morning!) all recorded on the washland.
Hobbies have been seen regularly, in small numbers across the reserve, clearly taking advantage of the numerous dragonflies still on the wing
Bearded tits have been reported from both New Fen viewpoint and Mere Hide, where a couple of water rails have also been showing off well.
Joist Fen viewpoint is still one of the best spots for bittern and marsh harrier sightings, with the bitterns taking advantage of the recently cut areas.
Here at the visitor centre kingfishers are being seen on a daily basis and we’re being treated to an occasional visit from a marsh tit on the feeders.
To finish off, I'll leave you with a lovely photo of some common lizards basking in the sunshine!
(Dave Rogers)