Good morning. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Here are some recent sightings from the festive period:
16 December:
A water rail and a kingfisher were seen from the visitor centre window. An otter was also seen from Mere Hide
18 December:
I saw a water pipit on the washland and a flock of around eight bearded tits from New Fen viewpoint.
19 December:
Volunteer Lee saw a great white egret from the Washland viewpoint along with two shelducks. He saw a peregrine and 23 corn buntings over New Fen viewpoint. He also saw 11 marsh harriers from Joist Fen viewpoint.
24 December:
A total of four great white egrets were seen from the riverbank and Lee McCarthy took these photos of the birds on the visitor centre feeders:
Great tit:
Reed bunting:
Goldfinch:
Image credits: Lee McCarthy
Thank you very much to Lee for sharing these great images with us.
27 December:
Good numbers of bearded tits were showing well on the reserve. A flock of around 20 were feeding in the reeds just east of Joist Fen viewpoint. Another flock of around 15 were feeding in front of the dragonfly platform just north of New Fen viewpoint.
A barn owl was showing well near Joist Fen viewpoint and a water rail was feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A smart male lesser redpoll was also on the visitor centre feeders along with a marsh tit and a coal tit. It is also worth reading this forum post about RSPB Minsmere volunteer Clare's visit to the reserve from 27 December.
28 December:
It was really rather chilly this morning and here are some pictures that I took from the riverbank:
Image credits: David White
A great white egret was standing on the ice in front of the Washland viewpoint. As I walked along the riverbank, a kingfisher flew along the river. As I got to the cattle corral, I spooked two roe deer that ran along the riverbank ahead of me.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear a great spotted woodpecker drumming in East Wood behind New Fen viewpoint. As I walked back through the reserve, another three roe deer ran along the railway line and a muntjac deer was skulking near the visitor centre.
As I opened up the visitor centre, a water rail was skulking at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A common buzzard flew over the visitor centre pond and a female sparrowhawk flashed low over the visitor centre feeders in an unsuccessful hunting raid. Presumably the same smart male lesser redpoll was also on the feeders.
Meanwhile further down the reserve, bearded tits have been showing well from the dragonfly platform north of New Fen viewpoint and a large flock of lapwings have been wheeling around over the reserve for much of the morning.
The reserve is currently open at all times. The visitor centre and toilets will be open daily 9am-4pm until Monday 2 January. Normal opening hours, with the visitor centre and toilets being open daily 9am-5pm will resume on Tuesday 3 January. We hope to see you soon!
Lovely post, David. Glad you liked my photos!
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.