It has been another amazing week here at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. It was hard to know where to base yourself on Sunday: On the one hand, you could be at New Fen viewpoint watching the male red footed falcon pelting around the sky with the local hobbys. On the other hand, you could stay around the visitor centre, where we had three cranes and a red kite circling overhead (although not at the same time unfortunately!) Two turtle doves also flew over nearby, although you had to be a bit further down the reserve to see them!
On Monday, Suzanne returned for her holiday and soon cured the fact that she was the only staff member that hadn’t seen the red footed falcon yet. It was feeding over New Fen North with at least eight hobbys and fifty swifts which must have been a sight! Two common terns were also on the washland.
It’s amazing what being busy does to you. I spent most of my day off on Tuesday sorting things out at home. I decided to pop down to the reserve for a walk. Although most of you won’t believe me, I had honestly forgotten about the presence of the red footed falcon until I arrived here. On the way down the riverbank, a turtle dove flew over the visitor centre. I quickly picked up the “red foot” feeding low in front of New Fen viewpoint with at least five hobbys. This was the first time that I had actually had a good view of it. I could even see its red eye and feet! It was truly a wonderful bird to watch.
It was really rather windy on Wednesday morning and there were 12 tufted ducks on the second washland pool along with two shelducks. A hobby was briefly hunting over New Fen North before perching up in Trial Wood (the middle poplar wood.) A barn owl was also hunting in front of the visitor centre slightly later on. The red footed falcon spent most of the morning perched up in West Wood (the furthest poplar wood) before hunting over New Fen viewpoint once again.
I did my bird survey yesterday morning and took my camera out to get some early morning shots. Here are two of my favourites:
Brandon Fen in the morning mist:
A garden snail:
Photo credits: David White
I was extremely lucky to see a dog otter on the riverbank near the visitor centre at around 06.30 and amazingly, Dave also saw one from New Fen viewpoint while he was doing the bittern survey around an hour later. Other highlights from yesterday morning included two garden warblers singing in East Wood and a willow warbler singing in the poplars near the visitor centre. A nightingale was also singing in Brandon Fen
The red footed falcon appeared at around 09.30 and was feeding over New Fen viewpoint with up to 15 hobbys. A whimbrel was seen north of the river and a pretty little green hairstreak butterfly was fluttering around near the public car park. One lucky couple also saw a stoat on the prowl in Brandon Fen.
Yesterday was also notable for several reports of those elusive golden orioles. There were reports of both “cat calling” and singing in West Wood, the furthest poplar wood. There was also a report of a male flying out of West Wood and across the river. These are all great signs so hopefully we will be able to confirm the presence of these beautiful and rare birds over the next couple of days. Rest assured, when we know, we will put the word out as soon as practically possible. We hope to see you soon!