As we enter November, Autumn is in full swing with a steady stream of Redwing flying overhead. Parasol toadstools and Giant puffballs dot the path edges and woodlands, but there are still a few dragonflies out and about to enjoy. Today has warmed up quite a bit- enough to encourage a few Common darter dragonflies and Willow emerald damselflies to bask on the warming wood of the raised beds opposite the Visitor Centre. There are no Hobbies left (our last known record was 11 October) but a Common buzzard was rising easily on the thermals about half an hour ago, above the Visitor Centre. Photo credit: Parasol toadstool by Heidi Jones. These are just beyond the back door of the Visitor Centre, near the boot scraper.On the Washland, our Whooper swan roost is now substantial, with over 700 birds here some mornings. Numbers vary and they are not only active in the day time- birds can arrive or depart at any time of day or night. Most Whoopers leave between dawn and mid-morning each day to feed in nearby fields, perhaps on discarded sugar beet tops, spilt maize cobs or in stubble- they are good at making use of what the tractors spill or leave behind. If visibility is good at night- a clear sky with a bright moon- they sometimes feed at night and there is no noticeable arrival at dusk into roost. Yet by first light, there can be hundreds of them floating serenely on the water, having flown in at night once they have had their fill. Also on the Washland have been a few ducks- our most recent count by volunteer Paul including 12 Gadwall, 8 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 5 Mute swan, 3 Cormorant, 2 Grey heron, 3 Great white egret and 1 Little egret on 1 November.Kingfisher sightings continue to hold up, with records from Mere Hide and the Visitor Centre pool yesterday (2 November) with another sighting at Mere Hide today. Another wetland specialist, the Otter, was seen using Gary's Pool on 1 November. Otters are always very elusive but sightings do increase in Autumn and Winter, and in wetter weather, which probably stimulates their fish prey to rise to the surface and perhaps makes them easier to hunt. One lucky family spotted a single Bearded tit this morning on their walk around- mornings are usually better for these and we have had an increase in records in the past few weeks. We are often asked for the best place to look- our answer is always a bit of a vague one- 'anywhere with reedbeds!'. We would be more specific if we could but the truth is, they really can turn up anywhere. Our administrator Suzanne had a group of 8 of them in the narrow slip of reeds that borders the riverbank in Brandon Fen on 31 November- they really can turn up in the smallest patches of reed. The best strategy is to familiarise yourself with their 'pinging' calls which alert you to their presence then pause and look carefully across the tops of the reeds for signs of movement. They pass through in a similar manner to Long-tailed tits- bouncing gently along in vocal family groups, though they are perhaps a bit trickier to follow. Other sightings include visits from the Sparrowhawk at the Visitor Centre feeders, who sometimes has a successful ambush or sometimes has to admit defeat and have another go later! Marsh tit have been regular visitors, but they don't linger- grabbing a sunflower heart quickly and retreated to a hidden perch to eat it. A small party of Siskin have been flying around the tops of the Alder trees feeding on the seeds in the cones, often joined by Goldfinches. A rare bird for us- a Bullfinch- was spotted yesterday (2 November) by David White from Nuttall's Tunnel- which is enclosed by high green metal fencing and lots of scrub, a five minute walk from Joist Fen Viewpoint, along the riverbank. We rarely get records of Bullfinches here- once they were incredibly common as Hartley's had a jam factory and orchards on Sedge Fen (south of the reserve) where they were considered a pest species in the mid-1900's. Now, without those orchards they are a very rare sight for us. Suzanne had a Treecreeper in Brandon Fen- we have had a couple of records from here recently so keep an eye out for mixed flocks of small birds passing through the trees, in case one is tagging along with them.I hope this update has been a useful one. Here is a photo to finish- of our new dipping pond which is almost complete. All that's left to do is to add some native plants and build a raised platform for younger users to stand on to be able to use the pond- at the moment, the side walls are about a metre high which is too high for little legs. This will also enable wheelchair users to pond dip too. Photo credit: The side walls of the dipping pond being finished with lovely oak sleepers recently. Photo by Heidi JonesWith best wishes for the week ahead,Heidi Jones (Visitor Experience Officer, RSPB Lakenheath Fen).