One of my favourite things about this time of year is the shear array of colours that are on display. There are lots of plants in flower and lots of insects of different shapes, shades and sizes. There are also lots of lovely birds around as well of course!
There were plenty of birds of prey around on Friday. A red kite drifted along the river and a peregrine was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint. A coal tit was singing in the car park and a swallow flew over. There were four kingfishers at the west end of the reserve along with a grey heron.
The area that we know as Botany Bay at the west end of the reserve was also an absolute haven for insects on Friday. Butterflies were well represented with good numbers of brimstones, peacocks and orange tips. There were also plenty of dragonflies and damselflies on the wing. This included a great count of at least 10 scarce chasers and several banded demoiselles. There was also large red damselfly and azure damselfly on the wing.
The weather wasn’t great yesterday but a drinker moth caterpillar spent most of the day feeding near the visitor centre. At least two individual bitterns were seen from New Fen viewpoint along with a kingfisher and a hobby. A golden oriole was also reported signing in Trial Wood.
Although the sun was very bright this morning, I still took some plant photos as there was just so much to see:
The celery-leaved buttercup along side New Fen North which is now rather difficult to see.
Some hedgerow cranesbill (and not common mallow as I originally misidentified it as, thanks Katherine!) that is flowering near the visitor centre.
A solitary ox-eye daisy that is in flower alongside East Wood.
The ragged robin near the Trial Wood viewpoint.
Some tufted vetch alongside Trial Wood.
The water forgetmenot that is now in flower alongside New Fen North.
I also saw a barn owl hunting over the washland and a family of bearded tits were pinging near New Fen viewpoint. A bittern flew very low right in front of the viewpoint which was lovely to see. A hobby was perched up in Trial Wood and a garden warbler was singing nearby. A cuckoo flew between Trial Wood and West Wood and a solitary blue tailed damselfly was on the wing near the Trial Wood viewpoint. We hope to see you soon.