Good morning. I have been sent some amazing pictures this week so without any further ado, here they are:
Two cracking shots of bearded tits that were taken recently on the approach to Mere Hide:
Image credits: Brian Anderson
Local photographer Matt Walton has also sent in these great pictures of some of the local hobbys:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Thank you very much to Brian and Matt for sharing these with us.
I lead a dawn chorus walk on Monday morning that started at 4.45am. I got here slightly earlier and heard a wood sandpiper calling in the darkness over the washland. The walk was fantastic and my person highlights were great views of a barn owl near East Wood and several obliging cuckoos that flew over. Most of the group (including myself) missed a whimbrel flying over but we all had a fantastic view of a reed warbler singing out in the open near Mere Hide.
We also saw a roe deer browsing on the hard track near Joist Fen viewpoint and had great views of the water violet that is growing along the southern edge of the first area of reedbed. Shortly after the walk, our first brown hawker dragonfly of the year was seen near the Washland viewpoint.
The sunshine encouraged at least 17 hobbys to feed over New Fen viewpoint on Tuesday afternoon and a garden warbler was singing near the visitor centre. There seems to have been a mass arrival of swifts in the last week and the sky was full of them on Wednesday. They have been joined by relatively good numbers of house martins which is great to see.
Also on Wednesday, Roy saw a bittern from New Fen viewpoint along with a cuckoo. He also counted at least eight hobbys feeding over the reserve despite the often gloomy conditions.
I went for a walk yesterday morning before it started raining and despite the wind, there was plenty to hear and see. There were at least two garden warblers singing in East Wood and a hobby flew from Trial Wood into West Wood. A cuckoo flew over Joist Fen viewpoint and I had a great view of a kingfisher whizzing along the river as I walked back along the Public Footpath.
As they say, rain stopped play for most of yesterday but Suzanne did pop up to the Washland viewpoint in the afternoon between the heavier showers. She saw at least six swallows and three house martins feeding overhead. A little egret was also feeding in front of the viewpoint.
The weather looks a bit unpredictable for this weekend but if you are planning to visit, we hope to see you soon.