Well, that has definitely seemed to be the case this week anyway. We started the week on northerlies and we are now on southerlies. Apart from the odd burst of sunshine, it has still been rather chilly for the time of year. As usual, this hasn’t put the local wildlife off though, as these lovely pictures from last Friday show:
Some formation flying from the local bitterns: Peter Allen
Two juvenile bearded tits feeding on the grit tray in front of Joist Fen viewpoint: Ken Clegg
The male red footed falcon was seen at 5am on Sunday morning from New Fen viewpoint and two turtle doves flew over the car park. The local kingfishers were particularly active. Two were seen from New Fen viewpoint and another was seen in the pool just behind Joist Fen viewpoint. The participants in the crazy cuckoos guided walk eventually saw one of these special birds flying over Joist Fen viewpoint and into West Wood. At least four bearded tits were seen just east of Joist Fen viewpoint near the polytunnel.
Two cranes were seen north of the river near Joist Fen viewpoint. Sadly, this is because this pair has failed and they are unlikely to try to breed again this year which is a shame. There was an unseasonal movement of 32 terns east along the river which were mainly commons with perhaps with a few arctics mixed in. There was also an unseasonal sighting of a short eared owl flying over the entrance track which was rather odd. Slightly more “normal” for here but equally exciting was another sighting of three bitterns flying together over Joist Fen viewpoint.
I lead a great evening walk on Monday night for Attleborough Baptist Church Men’s Fellowship . The weather was very kind to us and we saw a cuckoo in flight from the big willow near the visitor centre into the East Wood. A grasshopper warbler was reeling at the eastern edge of East Wood and a bittern was booming intermittently in New Fen North. When we reached the Trial Wood viewpoint, another grasshopper warbler was singing nearby which was great to hear. Everybodies’ highlight though had to be the fantastic sight of two hobbys tearing around the sky above New Fen North. This was a new bird for most members of the group so everybody went home happy!
On Tuesday, a hobby was seen from the visitor centre window and a golden oriole was reported in flight over Joist Fen viewpoint. This is an encouraging sign, as the birds are still not calling or singing at all and there have been very few sightings recently which is rather frustrating.
Despite a distinctly dodgy looking forecast, Wednesday turned out to be a great day for insects. I lead the Wednesday walkabout and there was plenty to see. It did highlight however though how rusty my insect ID skills are and we saw several things that I struggled with! We did see a cinnabar moth outside the visitor centre and my first hairy dragonfly of the year alongside Trial Wood. A banded demoiselle was patrolling alongside the path east of East Wood and a four-spotted chaser was resting on the path on the way up to the washland viewpoint. We saw plenty of blue tailed damselflies and I found a silver ground carpet resting in some nettles on the northern side of East Wood.
I was really struggling to tell my common blue and azure damselflies apart so I must take the book out next time! There were at least four hobbys over New Fen North along with a similar number of marsh harriers. A kingfisher dashed across the reedbed in front of New Fen viewpoint and I found some water forgetmenot flowering in the same bay as the water violet alongside Trial Wood.
I went for a little walk around Brandon Fen yesterday morning and saw a cuckoo which was rather nice. A common tern was over the washland and a kestrel was over the river bridge. A Cetti’s warbler was also “shouting” away near the visitor centre. I also took a couple of pictures. I hope you like them:
Some yellow iris in flower along the riverbank
Two mute swans in front of the Washland viewpoint
A selection of snails feeding on houndstongue in Brandon Fen
I will post a note later on today about the planned events this weekend. We hope to see you soon!