Good afternoon. I just thought I would share some lovely pictures with you that have been taken on the reserve over the last couple of weeks. As you can see, variety is definitely the spice of life on the reserve at this time of year!
Spoonbill on the washland (22 September):
Spoonbills on the washland (22 September):
Bearded tits (22 September):
Image credits: David Gowing
Male bearded tit (22 September):
Image credit: Matt Walton
A blue tit coming into land at the photography station (26 September):
Image credit: Nigel Wallace
A water stick insect feeding on the vegetation in front of Mere Hide (30 September):
Image credit: Janet Dobson
A (slightly lost! juvenile gannet in flight over the washland (2 October):
Image credit: Ian Grunnill
Thank you very much to David, Matt, Nigel,Janet and Ian for sharing their images with us.
In terms of sightings from the last couple of days, on Wednesday, Warden Katherine went up to the Washland viewpoint and saw:
When she got back to the visitor centre, she spotted a stoat feeding on the visitor centre veranda which was nice to see.
On Thursday, a kingfisher was fishing at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A blackcap was also feeding near the visitor centre.
Yesterday, at least three hobbys were still present feeding over the reserve in the sunshine. Warden Emma heard a tawny owl calling in East Wood and saw a red kite in flight over the visitor centre. There were also still seven ringed plovers present in front of the Washland viewpoint.
Although the weather hasn't been great today, a peregrine was seen over the far end of the reserve which is a good record for here. A kingfisher has also been showing well from Mere Hide.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are no longer cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!