Although Autumn is not so packed with birds as Springtime on the reserve, there is still lots to see. Flocks of bearded tits seem to be everywhere, and water rails call from the dense reeds, sounding like a pig with squeals and grunts. There are still marsh harriers around and occasionally a bittern will fly up. The surrounding fields have flocks of lapwings and golden plovers building up, and these are attracting hunting peregrine falcons.
The rarest birds to be seen at the moment are two Great white egrets which have been frequenting open pools in the reedbeds, they are the same size as a heron so much bigger than the much more common little egrets. Kingfishers and stonechats seem to have had a good breeding season and turn up to surprise in a variety of places. The mild weather helps the draqonflies and butterflies to continue their season, red admirals and clouded yellows have been seen and there are still a few migrant hawkers and common darters around.
Let us know what you see.
PS. There is a great display of roosting starlings to be seen from the Fen Drayton reserve car park, over Hollywell Lake, half an hour from sunset.
Barry O' Dowd (Warden)