Good morning. We hope you have all had good Christmases!
It is really rather wet outside today so I will start with some pictures of bearded tits that were taken on the reserve on 19 December in better conditions:
Image credits: Dave & Liz Knowles
Thank you very much to Dave and Liz for sharing these great images with us.
Here are some sightings from the last week and a half:
17 December
Local birder Steve was out on the reserve and saw a male goosander on the river. He saw two great white egrets and a bittern from Joist Fen viewpoint. He also saw two Chinese water deer just west of Joist Fen viewpoint.
Meanwhile, closer to the visitor centre, a chiffchaff was feeding near the Washland viewpoint and a sparrowhawk flew over the visitor centre pond.
18 December
Ex Site Manager Norman saw the following flying to roost on the reserve near Joist Fen viewpoint:
21 December
Volunteer Steve went up to the Washland viewpoint and saw the following:
A kingfisher was fishing in the visitor centre pond and a water rail was also skulking in the same area.
22 December
Volunteer Roy saw a bullfinch in front of the visitor centre and a goldcrest in our staff car park. A group of seven cranes were also seen from Joist Fen viewpoint.
23 December
A total of 262 whooper swans were feeding on or near the reserve. Two bearded tits were feeding near Joist Fen viewpoint and four cranes were seen in flight from the viewpoint itself. A peregrine was also seen with prey in the same area.
24 December
Local birder Steve had a good walk around the reserve. He saw three great white egrets along the riverbank and two peregrines from Joist Fen viewpoint. A flock of 220 lapwings were whirling around overhead and a green sandpiper flew into Joist Fen North. Two redshanks were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint and volunteer John saw a merlin north of the river.
27 December
I saw two little owls feeding on the entrance track on the way in this morning. I went up to the Washland viewpoint before I opened up and counted five whooper swans which looked pretty disgruntled! in the current weather conditions.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, there are still cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint. This path is also very muddy so wellies are recommended.
The visitor centre and toilets are now open daily 9am-4pm until New Years Day. Normal visiting hours, with the visitor centre and toilets opening daily from 9am-5pm, will resume on 2 January.
We hope to see you soon!