Good afternoon. I am very pleased to announce that two black winged stilts appeared on the reserve this morning.  This is only the second time that this species has been seen here, with the last record being back in May 2002.

The birds appeared in front of the Washland viewpoint just after 8am this morning before flying into New Fen North, the first area of reedbed, where these photographs were taken of them:

Good morning. One thing that I love about the month of May here is that when it comes round each year, it always brings in something different. So far, this May will be remembered for lot's of hobbys and an unprecedented variety of wader species on the washland. Here are some recent sightings from Sunday lunchtime onwards:

The black tern that appeared in front of the Washland viewpoint mid-morning and by lunchtime…

Good morning. I will begin by posting a nice photograph of a roe deer that was taken near New Fen viewpoint on Friday morning:

Image credit: Matt Walton

Thank you very much to Matt for sharing this great image with us!

As Friday afternoon went on, three cranes were seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint. There were a couple of interesting waders around on the washland early evening including two curlews, a whim…

Good afternoon. Despite the fact that the weather has not been very kind over the last couple of days, there has still been plenty to see on the reserve so here are some recent sightings from Tuesday onwards:

Local birder Steve spent some time at the Washland viewpoint on Tuesday evening. He saw 28 black tailed godwits and eight greenshanks. He also saw four ruffs which flew out of New Fen North, the first area of reedbed…

Good afternoon. As there has been so much to see recently and I probably won't be able to blog again until Friday, here are some more recent sightings from yesterday lunchtime onwards:

There was some excitement at lunchtime yesterday when local birders Ian and Kath found a female ring ouzel in Brandon Fen. Sadly, it didn't stick around for long though as it flew along the river shortly after it was found.

In…

Good morning. We have been treated to a real wader extravaganza over the last couple of days so here are some more recent sightings:

I did my latest Common Bird Census early on Friday morning and there were plenty of the usual suspects singing in the morning sunshine. Highlights including hearing a grasshopper warbler singing at the edge of the visitor centre pond and seeing a roe deer in Brandon Fen. 

After I finished…

Good morning. It is still rather chilly here bit despite that, there is still plenty to see. Here are some recent sightings from Saturday afternoon onwards:

Three hobbys were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint on Saturday and three bitterns were seen from New Fen viewpoint. Four garganeys were also seen from New Fen viewpoint which is a good count for here.

In the evening, volunteer John found a greenshank feeding in front…

Good afternoon. As I haven't got any new photos to share since I last blogged on Wednesday, here are a couple of photos of the washland that I took on Monday morning. I hope you like them:

Image credits: David White

I will now start off where I left off with some recent sightings from Wednesday onwards. Local birder Dave found a dunlin feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint with 10 black tailed godwit…

Blimey it was chilly here this morning! It took me a while to deice my car and when I got here, there was quite a sharp ground frost.

Before I launch into some sightings from Monday afternoon onwards, here are a couple of pictures that were taken on the reserve during last week:

Glossy ibis:

Great white egret:

Image credits: Martin Peake 

Thank you very much to Martin for sharing these images with us.

On Monday…

Good morning. I will start off with some great images that were taken on the reserve recently by regular visitor David Gowing:

Bittern swimming:

Avocet:

Image credits: David Gowing

Thank you very much to David for sharing these great images with us.

I will now start off where I left off with some sightings from Friday morning onwards:

Four oystercatchers flew north over the visitor centre, calling noisily…

Please find the registration form for this year's Race for Wildlife attached to this blog post. Please e-mail your completed registration form to: lakenheath@rspb.org.uk; If you have any questions or queries about the event, please ring the reserve office on 01842 863400 or e-mail: lakenheath@rspb.org.uk; We look forward to seeing you on the day!

Good morning. I will start off where I left off on Wednesday afternoon with some more recent sightings: 

Site Manager Dave saw at least 40 sand martins feeding over Joist Fen viewpoint. Two juvenile cranes were also seen in flight from the viewpoint before flying north of the river.

Suzanne and I were in early yesterday morning to so our latest Common Bird Census (CBC) in Brandon Fen yesterday afternoon. There were plenty…

Good afternoon. There has been plenty to see here recently so here are some more recent sightings:

As it was due to be very warm indeed here on Sunday, I decided to get here extra early for a walk around the reserve before it warmed up too much. I saw the glossy ibis and a great white egret from the Washland viewpoint first thing. When I got to West Wood, the furthest poplar plantation, a brambling was calling in the…

How time flies! It has been a week since our Spring Family Fun Day so I thought I would share some photographs while the event is still fresh in my mind. We hope you like them:

Visitor centre Liam with "Liam" the cow!

"Nellie" the hand reared goat:

Cows:

Pond dipping:

Jaiden standing next to Frederick, the willow dragon:

"Maisie" the pony:

Jaiden petting one of the…

Good afternoon. There has been plenty to see over the last couple of days so here are some more recent sightings:

As reported yesterday, a glossy ibis appeared in New Fen North on Tuesday afternoon before relocating to the large pool in front of the Washland viewpoint where it has been since.

There were three roe deer grazing at the edge of the entrance track as I drove in yesterday morning and five lesser redpolls were…

Good morning I am very pleased to report that a glossy ibis was found on the reserve yesterday afternoon. It was first seen in the newly cut area at the western edge of New Fen North, the first large area of reedbed. It was visible from the riverbank Public Footpath.

This was only the second confirmed record of this species on the reserve and it is the first time that one has ever been seen on the ground on the reserve…

Good morning. We have been treated to some lovely weather here over the last couple of days so here are some more recent sightings from Saturday afternoon onwards:

A little ringed plover flew across the large pool in front of the Washland viewpoint and landed briefly at the edge of the pool. Two cranes circled over the viewpoint for a while and the little gull remained present in front of the viewpoint for the rest of…

Good afternoon, as we have our Spring Family Fun Day, tomorrow, I won't have a chance to blog. Therefore, here are some more recent sightings from yesterday lunchtime onwards:

A male great spotted woodpecker was on the visitor centre feeders and a several small tortoiseshell butterflies were on the wing around Brandon Fen. A group of nine sand martins also flew north over the reserve.

I took this picture of the…

Good morning. There has been plenty seen here over the last couple of days so here are some more recent sightings:

I will start off by posting some images of the short eared owl from Monday evening. We hope you like them:

Image credits: John Wightman

Thank you very much to John for sharing these great images with us.

I will start off where I left off with some sightings from Tuesday afternoon onwards…

Good morning. Suzanne, Emma and I have all been in early this morning to do our Common Bird Census' in the fog this morning so it's now time for some more recent sightings.

I will start off with some late news from Thursday: A peregrine was feeding over the far end of the reserve along with at least 20 stock doves. Two fieldfares flew over and there were plenty of butterflies on the wing in the sunshine including…

Good afternoon. Our Spring Family Fun Day takes place in just over a week's time so here are some more details of what we have planned for the day.

Weather permitting, the headlining act will be that our grazier, Granger Harrison will be bringing along some of his livestock to show. He is planning to bring a hand reared goat along with some cattle, sheep and chickens. You should be able to pet some of them  so here…

Good morning. It has been an interesting couple of days here so here are some more recent sightings:

I will start off where I left off on Sunday. Volunteer Paul saw a singing mistle thrush perched up by the reserve entrance. Local birders Paul and Steve saw a good selection of birds. Paul saw a female pintail on the washland and a sand martin over Joist Fen viewpoint. Steve saw at least three sand martins and a swal…

Good morning. It has been a bit chilly here for the last couple of days so I will begin this morning's post with some images that were taken on the reserve on Tuesday, when it was a great deal warmer than it is at the moment!:

Bittern:

Mute swans:

Male reed bunting:

Image credits: Christine Nelson

Thank you very much to Christine for sharing here images with us.

I will start off where I left off with some…

Good morning. Suzanne and I have done our first bird survey of the breeding season this morning so it's time to catch up on what has been happening here over the last couple of days:

I am pleased to say that the pair of garganeys that I was lucky enough to find on Sunday morning stuck around and have been present ever since. Volunteer Max was lucky enough to find a jack snipe feeding with seven common snipe in the…

Good morning. Although it hasn't been quite as warm as it has been over the last couple of days, there has still been plenty to see so here are some more recent sightings.

If you read my last recent sightings blog post from Friday, you will know that I heard a stone curlew calling over New Fen North during my morning walk. Well, it turns out that the plot thickens! Simon Evans, our local bird ringer was ringing in…