August 11 sightings: "Its sleepout time!"

I have to begin again with apologising again for the lack of photos and hyperlinks. Hopefully they will return soon! We had a pleasant surprise on Friday morning when four adult cranes were circling over the visitor centre and washland for around 20 minutes. Once it had stopped raining, there were several birds of prey out and about including a hobby and a common buzzard over Joist Fen viewpoint. A kingfisher was also seen from New Fen viewpoint. We had an action packed Big Wild Sleepout event on Friday night and we saw plenty of wildlife. We went for a walk down to the Trial Wood viewpoint to watch the sun go down. A green sandpiper flew over New Fen North. There was plenty of bat activity once darkness fell. There was a mixed group of common and soprano pipistrelles feeding alongside East Wood and I heard several distant noctules near the visitor centre. We had a quick listen by the visitor centre and there were several Daubenton’s bats “trawling” over the pond. We set the moth trap out over night and got a good selection of moths (and other nocturnal creatures). This included a poplar hawkmoth, a garden tiger moth and several pretty canary shouldered thorns. I have attached a list of the ones that we could identify! There were also several caddis flies in the trap and two sexton beetles. These colourful beetles are infamous for feeding on decaying flesh and can emit quite a pungent stench when they are threatened. Needless to say, we gave them a wide berth! The two largest moths that we saw didn't actually make it into the trap. Two red underwings spent the day resting on the workshop door in our staff car park. They are really rather large and are much bigger than any butterfly that you are likely to see here! A whimbrel flew over the visitor centre calling as it went at 00.50 and a barn owl was hunting over Brandon Fen shortly after first light. Six juvenile bearded tits were in front of New Fen viewpoint and the “visitor centre kingfisher” made an appearance later on in the day. At least one pair of cranes was present and were seen from both viewpoints over the course of the day. I went for a walk this morning and saw a painted lady alongside Trial Wood and one of my favourite species of spider. Its English name is the marbled orb weaver but I prefer its Latin name which is the particularly memorable Araneus marmoreus pyramindatus! I also saw a juvenile cuckoo several times near the visitor centre. Its a lovely day today so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!