Good afternoon. It has been a lovely weekend weather wise and here are some pictures that I took on the reserve this morning that I hope you like:

Image credits: David White

Two cranes have been seen in flight regularly over the last couple of days, mainly from Joist Fen viewpoint. Look out for them flying in from north of the river.

Our resident bitterns are continuing to boom and one was booming well in front of…

Good morning. There have been some very interesting sightings over the last couple of days so without any further ado, here we go:

Local birder Paul S walked along the riverbank and saw several water pipits. He also saw seven white fronted geese flying north over Joist Fen viewpoint, which is a good record for here.

Meanwhile, further down the reserve, Warden Katherine and volunteer Paul H did the monthly Wetland Birds…

Apologies for the delay in posting these, but here are some wonderful images that were taken on the reserve on Sunday that I hope you like:

Cranes:

Image credits: Robin Johnson

Reed buntings: 

Image credits: Stephen Reeve

Thank you very much to Robin and Stephen for sharing these wonderful images with us.

I will return with a more detailed recent sightings post tomorrow.

We hope to see you on the reserve soon…

Good morning. I will start of by sharing some pictures I will start off by sharing some images from early on Thursday morning that I hope you like:

Image credit: David White

It was really rather frosty yesterday morning and I was treated to fantastic views of a barn owl hunting over Brandon Fen first thing. Four roe deer were also skulking at the edge of the path up to the riverbank.

A green woodpecker was calling…

Hello there and Happy Valentine’s Day to you all. Here are some recent sightings from Saturday onwards:

On Saturday morning, two marsh harriers were hunting over Brandon Fen and around half a dozen redpolls were feeding in the alders behind the visitor centre. A great white egret was also showing well from the Washland viewpoint.

We spent a very fun morning den building with the reserve Wildlife Explorer’s Club…

If you read our blog recently, you will know that our cranes are very much in and out at this time of year. However, a flock of seven were photographed over the reserve last Sunday. (3 February)  Hopefully, this will mean that they will be back on territory for the breeding season soon!

Image credits: Phil Hacker

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

This image shows four adults and…

Good morning. I will start with a trip down memory lane. Here is a photograph from the pumping station down at the far end of the reserve from the 1970’s:

This was taken when the majority of what is now the reserve was owned by Bryant and May and was covered in American hybrid black poplars

Fast-forward to more recent times, here are some lovely picture of marsh harriers that were hunting over the reserve recently…

Good morning. There has been plenty to see on the reserve over the last couple of days so here are some recent sightings from Thursday afternoon onwards:

Suzanne spent some time at the photography station at lunchtime and was treated to good views of a water rail. A barn owl was also hunting at the edge of the car park during the afternoon.

I had fantastic views of a barn owl hunting over Brandon Fen first thing on Friday…

Good morning. It is really rather chilly today so here are some more recent sightings for you.

Volunteer Paul came in on Sunday and spotted a great white egret from the Washland viewpoint. Although the weather was not ideal, at least one bittern was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint during the course of the day.

On Monday, Suzanne saw a buzzard over Brandon Fen. On Tuesday, ex Site Manager Norman saw five cranes from Joist…

Good morning. I hope you are having a good weekend!

Here are some sightings from Friday onwards. A smart male brambling was on the feeders behind the visitor centre for most of the day and Site Manager Dave saw a little egret near Joist Fen viewpoint.

I went for a walk around Brandon Fen before work yesterday morning and I had great views of a barn owl hunting over the grazing marsh. Two roe deer were skulking at the…

Good morning. I will start by sharing one more image of the sparrowhawk that was perched up on the ice of the visitor centre pond on Monday, courtesy of visitor centre volunteer John Wightman:

Image credit: John Wightman

Just in case you don’t know, it is a very important weekend for the RSPB this weekend: It is Big Garden Birdwatch weekend! The survey takes place from Saturday 25 January to Monday 26 January.…

Good afternoon. Here are some recent sightings from Friday afternoon onwards:

Volunteer Roy went and filled up the feeders down at the photography station and he saw a water rail skulking around. There was plenty to see along the riverbank and a lucky couple saw an otter. A kingfisher was also fishing in the same area.

I had a very successful walk around the reserve on Saturday morning. Things started well and I saw a…

Please note that the Clatterings, ghosts and egrets guided walk tomorrow afternoon has been cancelled due to a lack of bookings. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. 

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

On Tuesday, two red kites were hunting over Mere Hide in the afternoon sunshine. Local birder Steve counted at least 97 whooper swans feeding north of the river. He also saw a single pink footed goose along the river in amongst the greylag geese along the river and a bittern from Joist Fen viewpoint…

Good morning. How on earth is it mid-January already?! Here are some recent sightings from Friday onwards. Warden Katherine went down the reserve and saw at least two great white egrets near Joist Fen viewpoint. We were treated to fantastic views of two barn owls hunting near the visitor centre at the end of the day which was great to see.

On Saturday, six redshanks were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint and…

Good morning. I have now returned from my travels for the time being so it’s time for another update on what has been seen recently:

I went up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime last Thursday and a sparrowhawk flew over my head which was nice to see. I counted five redshanks in front of the viewpoint and a stonechat was also perched up nearby.

Meanwhile, further down the reserve, volunteer Mark saw a bitter…

Good morning. Now that things are moreorless back to normal, here is one more recent sightings blog post before I disappear off again for a while (long story!)

As New Year’s Day went on, a goldcrest was singing in front of the visitor centre and a little grebe was feeding in the river. I had a quick look from the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime and saw the following:

• Caspian gull: One second winter bird
• Lapwin…

RSPB Lakenheath Fen update:

If you are planning to visit the reserve this coming weekend, please note that the B1112 north of the reserve entrance is due to be closed from Friday 4 January 8pm until Monday 7 January 5am inclusive.

It will therefore be necessary to access the reserve from the south, either via Lakenheath village or the Wangford Road.

Please ring 01842 863400 or e-mail: lakenheath@rspb.org.uk; for more…

Good morning and Happy New Year to you all!

As promised in yesterday’s blog post, here is a picture of one of the otters that was showing well from New Fen viewpoint on Sunday:

Image credit Stephen Reeve

Thank you very much to Stephen for sharing this lovely image with us.

Although sadly, there were no sightings of these elusive mammals yesterday, hopefully they are still in the area. Two cranes flew over Joist…

Good morning. We have come to the last day of 2018 so here is one more recent sightings blog post for you:

I will start off with a couple of bits of late news that I have heard on the grapevine since I last blogged. On Monday 17 December, two ravens flew east over New Fen viewpoint which is a good record for here. On Friday 28 December, volunteer Norman saw at least five marsh harriers from Joist Fen viewpoint.

I went…

Good morning. We hope you all had peaceful and enjoyable festive seasons! The visitor centre is now open again after the Christmas break so here are some sightings from the last two weeks:

15 December

A water pipit was showing near the Washland viewpoint and a great crested grebe was showing well on the river. Two buzzards were circling over the visitor centre and a sparrowhawk flew over Trial Wood.

Meanwhile, further…

Good morning. As I don’t have many days left in the office before Christmas, this is likely to be my last recent sightings blog post before the big day:

Despite the fact that it was really rather chilly on Wednesday, local birder Steve saw at least one common darter dragonfly which is a very late record for this species on the reserve. A sparrowhawk was hunting over the visitor centre just before darkness fell and…

Good morning. Here are some sightings from Friday afternoon onwards:

Three roe deer were lurking behind the visitor centre pond and I went down the reserve mid-afternoon. I saw a female merlin hunting over Trial Wood. Apparently, a peregrine was also hunting nearby, although I wasn’t lucky enough to see it myself.

I also took a couple of pictures, which I hope you like:

Image credits: David White

I spent some…

Good morning. Although the dreary December weather continues, there has still been plenty to see so here are some more recent sightings for you:

Starting off where I left of on Wednesday, Suzanne saw two stonechats near the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime. I went up there later on in the afternoon and saw the following:

• Yellow legged gull: 1 adult
• Great white egret: 1
• Redhank: 6

I had a quick look up at the Washland…

Good morning. As the weather isn't particularly great at the moment, instead of sharing another rainy picture, here are a couple if pictures from this time of year over the last couple of years:

2013:

2017:

Image credits: David White

I hope you like them!

In terms of sightings from Saturday afternoon onwards, I went up to the Washland viewpoint and I saw:

• Yellow legged gull: 1
• Herring gull: 3
• Great white eg…