It seems like only yesterday that I was last writing a recent sightings update, however a week has once again sped by (where does the time go?!), so apologies for this week’s update being a little delayed!
The osprey continues to be the star of the show and has been seen daily across the reserve for the past week. It’s treated us to some spectacular views from both Joist Fen and New Fen viewpoints whilst fishing in various the reedbed pools.
It certainly proved to be a welcome distraction on Thursday as we were cutting back the reeds in front of Joist Fen in order to open up the view. The strimming was quickly called to a halt as we watched it fishing for a good ten minutes, before it successfully carried off a fish!
Thanks to Matt Walton for sharing this great image of the osprey.
We’ll be cutting more reed back at Joist Fen next week, hopefully encouraging a few of our secretive reedbed residents like bittern and water rail to make an appearance.
Close runners up for star of the show have been our bearded tits, which have been showing amazingly well this week. As we sat in Mere Hide last Sunday as part of the Rambler’s Ramble event, listening their pinging calls, a group of four suddenly appeared about a metre away from the hide!
Things continued to get better at Joist Fen as a group of around 15 spent time flitting around in the reeds directly in front of us. Only yesterday there was a group of 28 spotted there mid afternoon, so it’s well worth the walk down there.
Bearded tits (Image credit - Tim James)
Osprey aside, it’s been a great week for bird of prey sightings; marsh harriers daily across the reserve, up to four hobbies around New Fen (22nd), two red kite over the river bank (22nd), four common buzzard over Joist Fen (24th) and kestrel regularly alongside New Fen.
There have been regular sightings of water rail at New Fen, skulking in the fresh reed growth to the right of the viewpoint.
Kingfishers have been regular visitors to Mere Hide and the visitor centre pool, posing well for anyone passing with a camera;
Kingfishers from the visitor centre (Image credits - John Wightman)
And to finish - a reminder that tomorrow we have on a binocular, telescope and early Christmas shopping day here at Lakenheath Fen. You’ll have the chance to not only get advice on the best binoculars, telescopes and accessories to suit your needs, but the opportunity to try them out as well. You can also make an early start on your Christmas shopping with a selection of cards, calendars and gifts for sale!