Due to the poor weather forecast for this weekend we've taken the decision to postpone the Big Wild Sleepout this weekend. We decided that camping in thunderstorms and heavy rain would not be a very good idea! We have, however, rearranged it for next Saturday 3 August. We do now have spaces, so if you would like to experience Lakenheath Fen after dark, please contact the reserve direct on 01842 863400, or email lakenheath@rspb.org.uk.
Another quiet week on the reserve, I think the very hot weather has made everything run for shade! Our single crane chick has still not fledged! It has been making some promising wing flaps though, so hopefully we'll be seeing them in flight in the next week or two. We've also had another pair of cranes around for most of the week. We're not quite sure who this pair is, but there is a suspicion that it's the pair of youngsters that fledged from here last year!
Spare pair of cranes? Photo credit Matt Walton
Kingfishers and bitterns continue to perform well at Mere Hide.
Insects continue to be a source of interest, with hogweed being particularly attractive to a selection of solitary and parasitic wasps. The following were taken by David Hopkins. If anyone can identify any of them, please let me know what they are! I've got as far as ruby tailed wasp (top insect on the second photo), but I'm not sure about the others...!
Both photo's by David Hopkins
Friday morning moth trap was good, with 72 species in the trap (not including some of the smaller micromoths!). Top moths included tawny wave, tree lichen beauty, poplar kitten, reed dagger and Webbs wainscot.
Tree lichen beauty. Photo credit Katherine Puttick
A new butterfly was recorded for the reserve today by one of our regular visitors. She captured a marbled white near Mere Hide! Photo to follow soon!!
Hope to see you on the reserve soon!
Cheers,
Katherine
Would have thought the rain would be very welcome after such a long dry period. It was certainly very welcome for me.