As we move through Spring, numbers of Hobbies and Bitterns are fast increasing on the reserve. We now have a count of 21 Hobby from yesterday (24 April) from Joist Fen, and we expect this number to rise to 50+ towards mid-May. You can spot Hobbies anywhere on the reserve but they do seem to have a fondness for the airspace above Joist Fen Viewpoint, where they feed on flying insects and small birds if they can catch them. On our most recent Bittern survey (24 April) we recorded 14 booming males across the reedbeds, and again Joist Fen offers you the highest chance of seeing and hearing some as there you are surrounded by reedbeds. We even had a record of Bearded tit from there on 24 April too- not a bird we record every day during the warmer months!Other highlights from this week include high numbers of Reed warblers singing from even the smallest strips of reedbed, whilst Sedge warblers have been quieter this week and may now be on their first broods as they arrive a little earlier. Cetti's warbler and Common whitethroat, as well as Blackcap and Chiffchaff, are very common sounds to hear as you walk around. We have up to four Grasshopper warblers here, with one heard most recently from the hard track leaving the Visitor Centre on 24 April- it was likely to be in the reedbed at the back of the Visitor Centre pool. We also recorded our first Nightingale of 2025, singing in Botany Bay, around 150m east of the pumping station, along the riverbank footpath (which is the only there-and-back access to Botany Bay).
On the Washland our volunteer Paul has kept up with his counting, and this morning (25 April) he had 18 Mute swans, 6 Lapwing, 4 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed godwit and 2 Redshank, plus a Buzzard overhead. You should also spot small numbers of ducks like Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallard too, and keep an eye out for the elusive Garganey. Gary's Pool continues to offer the best chance of seeing these- there was one there on 24 April again- but do check the Washland too as historically we can have several pairs there at once during May- especially around the edges.As well as our beautiful Marsh harriers, which are now in the throes of nesting, a lucky visitor spotted a Peregrine here yesterday (24 April) flying over the main track down the reserve, near Mere Hide. A few days before we had seen one carrying food in it's talons away from the reserve so we think we may have a nesting pair nearby.I hope this quick update has been useful and as always we love to hear your sightings from your visits- so please get in touch with us on 01842 863400 or lakenheath@rspb.org.uk or pop into the Visitor Centre if you want to share what you've seen.by Heidi Jones (Visitor Experience Officer, RSPB Lakenheath Fen).