Good morning. We have had an interesting couple of days here at Lakenheath Fen. I took a group of American cub scouts out on the reserve on Saturday afternoon. Reptiles were very conspicuous. We saw a grass snake near the railway line and at least six common lizards near New Fen viewpoint.
I was out and about representing the RSPB at the Wayland Show on Sunday. Meanwhile, back here, volunteer Norman saw eight green sandpipers flying west over the far end of the reserve.
It wasn't a bad day on Monday and Britain’s largest species of hoverfly could be seen from the office window. Otherwise known as the hornet mimic hoverfly, it was an impressive creature to behold! I popped up to the Washland viewpoint during the afternoon and saw two common terns.
A muntjac deer was feeding at the edge of the entrance track on Tuesday morning. Volunteer Paul Holness also saw five common terns from the Washland viewpoint.
There was an impressive red underwing moth resting above the visitor centre door yesterday morning. Here is a picture I took of one here two years ago:
Image credit: David White
We had our regular Wild Wednesday session of family activities yesterday morning. We saw a red eyed damselfly resting on a lily pad in the pond raised bed outside the visitor centre.
After doing some pond dipping, we went up to the Washland viewpoint. Much to our surprise, a bittern flew right over our heads! There were also five common terns fishing in the large pool. On the way back to the visitor centre, one of the children spotted a small tortoiseshell caterpillar bumbling across the path. Here is a photo that I took of one here two years ago:
I walked down to Joist Fen viewpoint before work this morning and saw three little egrets feeding alongside the river. A common buzzard was calling in West Wood and several bearded tits were calling near Joist Fen viewpoint.
A water rail made a short flight in front of the viewpoint and a wing tagged juvenile marsh harrier was hunting nearby.
On the way back, I took some time to admire the large flowered hemp nettle that is currently in flower alongside West Wood. I think it’s pretty good looking for a weed if I may say so myself:
Image credits: David White
The flowers always remind me of bee orchids, which we occasionally get flowering on the riverbank. This is certainly one of my favourite species of plant on the reserve. Arable weed indeed!
A treecreeper was calling in West Wood and there were two juvenile siskins on the feeders behind the visitor centre.
It’s the Big Wild Sleepout event this weekend so there will be plenty going on throughout the weekend. We hope to see you soon!