Good morning. I will begin this morning by posting some pictures that I took on the reserve on Friday. I hope you like them!:
Male banded demoiselle:
White campion:
Water forget- me- not:
Hoverfly sp. which looks most like Helophilus pendulus:
Dragonfly exuvia on the yellow iris in front of the visitor centre. Most likely to belong to an emperor dragonfly, judging by its size:
Image credits: David White
Unfortunately, my pre-work walk yesterday morning was curtailed somewhat as I had to remove some hemlock stems that had collapsed over part of the entrance track. However, I did manage to see the showy garden warbler in the alders behind the visitor centre and heard a goldcrest singing along the entrance track.
Volunteer Steve went up to the Washland viewpoint and he was treated to good views of two barn owls and a short eared owl hunting in front of the viewpoint. As the day went on, volunteer Roy saw at least 14 hobbys over Joist Fen viewpoint and a bittern from Mere Hide.
There was some excitement mid-afternoon when a little bittern was reported flying from left to right across the pool in front of New Fen viewpoint. This species was last recorded here in 2015 when a very elusive a male spent almost six weeks on the reserve.
Just before we closed, a roe deer was grazing at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A male hairy dragonfly was also showing well in the Fens raised bed in front of the visitor centre.
Once we had shut up the visitor centre, Wardens Alan & Emma, volunteer John and I spent a couple of hours at New Fen viewpoint looking for the little bittern. Although we didn't see it, we saw at least one bittern and the short eared owl. We also saw a hobby flying into East Wood.
I spent another 45 minutes at New Fen viewpoint this morning looking for the little bittern. Although again, I didn't see it, I saw two cuckoos and a kingfisher.
When I got back to the office, there was an answer phone message from Simon Evans, our local bird ringer, who had seen two Mediterranean gulls flying over the washland just after 6am. I went up to the Washland viewpoint to see them and although I didn't see them, I did have fantastic views of the short eared owl hunting in front of the viewpoint. I also saw an oystercatcher and a lapwing.
Shortly after we opened, Simon rang again to say that another Mediterranean gull had just flown onto the washland. This time, I was in luck as I spotted a second summer bird in the top right hand corner of the pool.
Things have got very interesting as this morning has gone on. A probable little bittern was heard barking from Joist Fen viewpoint at 06.55 and another was reported barking from the riverbank in New Fen North. There may be more than one around then! We will keep you updated on this situation and if we confirm anything, we will let you know as soon as we can!
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!