Good day to you all. Although we haven’t seen the sun much in September, it has certainly encouraged a wide variety of wildlife to show itself when it has been shining.
The reserve team had their management plan pathfinder meeting on Friday, when they discussed an overview of the management of the reserve for the next five years. They spent the afternoon out on the reserve and saw two bearded tits on the grit tray in front of New Fen viewpoint.
A kingfisher was seen from Mere Hide on Saturday and another was seen from the visitor centre window. A red underwing was roosting above the visitor centre pond and a red banded sand wasp was hunting nearby.
We had our twentieth birthday family fun day and there was plenty to see in the sunshine. The local butterflies were out in force with several small tortoiseshells and a large white feeding in the plant bed below the office window. A red underwing also got up close and personal with volunteer Liam, when it landed on his thigh!
There was plenty of bird of prey activity over the visitor centre, including a female marsh harrier, a common buzzard and at least two hobbys.
I was in charge of bug hunting and we saw a good mix of interesting creatures. We saw plenty of common darters and ruddy darters. We saw a brimstone butterfly and an impressive looking scorpion fly. A large common lizard was also basking between the visitor centre and the car park.
Meanwhile, down at the pond dipping platform, they caught several water scorpions and water stick insects. A female southern hawker kept landing on one of the tables and a grass snake swam across the pod. There was also some chomping and plopping sounds coming from the edge of the pond, which was likely to be the comings and goings of one of the local water voles.
I retrieved the trail signs around Brandon Fen at the end of the day and a marbled orb weaver landed in my wheelbarrow. I also apprehended this impressive looking creature:
After a little help from a friend, I managed to successfully identify this as a speckled bush cricket, which was a new one for me!
I popped in briefly yesterday to find a large female sparrowhawk perched on the “Welcome to RSPB Lakenheath Fen” sign.
I walked around Brandon Fen this morning and saw a barn owl hunting. Several common snipe flew over Brandon Fen and I spooked a roe deer, which promptly took a plunge in a nearby ditch. Fortunately, it got out the other side so all it got was an unexpected bath!
I also took some pictures of some of the species of fungi that are currently growing near the visitor centre:
Image credits: David White
A kingfisher was seen from the visitor centre pond shortly after we opened up and there were several common lizards basking in the staff car park.
We hope to see you soon!