This week had quite an autumnal feel, with low temperatures and a fresh northerly breeze, however by Friday it was back up to 25 degrees hot and sunny with blue skies.
The bird news this week is once again a little thin on the ground, however as always there is still plenty to see. Kingfishers have once again been seen frequently form Reception and Fen Hides as well as being seen all along the riverbank and in the pools around the reserve. Bearded tits are still feeding low down in the reeds but have been showing well from Reception Hide on occasion. The garganey numbers are still fluctuating on a daily basis but today 10 were seen at Tower Hide along with 15 ruff and a redshank. Water rails have been seen from all hides this week, with the subadult at Tower Hide being most frequently reported. A juvenile little ringed plover has been seen on Tower Hide spit on a number of occasions throughout the week, it is fairly unusual to see this species here, so is quite a notable sighting. The most recent report of bittern came on Wednesday, although I’m sure they have been seen here on a near daily basis. The spotted flycatcher was seen again in the woods on Tuesday too. Marsh harriers are still using the fen, however the majority of the juveniles have now departed and many of the adults are out hunting further afield during the day.
Buckenham and Cantley have started to attract a few more waders now with this weeks peaks being 13 ruff, 4 avocet, ringed plover, dunlin and snipe. As well as the waders there have been up to four yellow wagtails and a juvenile cuckoo have at Buckenham.
Butterflies have taken the headlines this week, with a silver washed fritillary being seen in the woodland on Tuesday, another was possibly seen on Wednesday too, so its worth checking the commas for a larger prize. The other notable butterfly of the week was a purple hairstreak, this was seen on our bug hunt around the log circle. Purple hairstreaks are usually found high up in oak trees so are very much under recorded, so nice to see one on the brambles for a change. There is no sign of a second brood of swallowtails just yet, but if any are reported to us I will do a special post.
Plenty of dragonflies are on the wing at the moment, the sheltered areas of the reserve (during these blustery conditions) are full of migrant hawker, brown hawker, common and ruddy darters. Also beginning to increase in number are the willow emerald damselflies, I have seen them near the fen boardwalk area, along sandy wall and at the pool near reception so far this year. Small red-eyed damselflies have been seen from Reception Hide and the pool next to the hide.
Otter has been seen on Wednesday at reception, Chinese water deer have been showing well around the fen, including some very small and cute looking youngsters.
Paths are all open, the Lackford Run went underwater a number of times this week so there are a few wet patches, but not particularly muddy yet. We have started our fen management so you may well see us out in the reedbed piling up reed or even having a fire.
The weather is set to improve over the weekend and the start of next week before going downhill again, so get over here and enjoy the fen.