Good morning. Its been a while since our last update so here we go again: It is always sad when we get to the end of May as it tends to be the most exciting month of the year here! I will start off when I left off on Tuesday. I saw a beautiful ruby tailed wasp near the visitor centre and there was plenty to see further down the reserve.
The little bittern was seen in flight just after 4pm between Mere Hide and Joist Fen viewpoint. Two turtle doves flew west and a spotted flycatcher was feeding in West Wood. A great white egret was also on the washland.
It was a nice day on Wednesday and we had a family activity in the morning. We went bug hunting and found plenty of the usual suspects. We also found several unusual plants including drooping brome and sand sedge. These were both near the car park.
We went pond dipping and saw two four spotted chasers feeding over the pond. Two cuckoos also flew over the pond dipping platform.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, the little bittern was still barking in the same area and was seen a couple of times over the course of the day. A “big” bittern was seen in flight over the triangle and a red kite was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint.
The little bittern had a day off on Thursday and was not seen and heard at all. However, there were plenty of other things to see. Local photographer Matt Walton was here and took these great pictures:
Sunrise over the river:
A cuckoo:
A great crested grebe:
A banded demoiselle:
The little bittern reappeared on Friday and there was an intriguing report of a corncrake calling near New Fen viewpoint. The latter species would be a first record for the reserve so hopefully it will be heard again!
A peregrine was seen over West Wood yesterday and Matt Walton returned to take this great picture of a bittern:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Thank you very much to Matt Walton for sharing these great images with us.
I am off to RSPB Minsmere for the next two days to help out with BBC Springwatch so if you are heading over that way, I might see you there!
We hope to hear from you soon.