This week started off very much cooler than last week, with much needed rainy periods too. As the week progressed temperatures rose closer to average.
Swallowtails were still being seen on Friday in the milder periods, although we are now well past the peak. Our winter woodland management has paid off, by clearing areas of trees and creating sunny glades, bramble has developed and has attracted good numbers of white admiral and better than that, this week a silver washed fritillary has also been seen using these glades.
Bitterns have been seen in flight from Tower Hide (remember to report them to reception as we are very interested in these flights!), kingfishers have been very active throughout the week with two birds on Friday fighting in front of Tower hide and then Fen Hide. These kingfishers may have been a pair, or possibly an adult seeing a young bird out of its territory, unfortunately we do not know at this time. Marsh harriers are busy feeding young, every now and then a young bird is seen flapping its wings, so it will not be long before the trees are adorned by the black bodied, ginger headed juveniles. Bearded tits have been seen feeding across the reserve, with small family parties making themselves known by their excited calls (see above). Cuckoos are still just about clinging on at the fen, the recently fledged cuckoo on the table in the middle of the log circle pictured below was quite a surprise!
This weekend sees national meadows day on Sunday, the meadow is looking great at the moment with lots of orchids, marsh helliborines, grasses, sedges, ragged robin and many other colourful flowers on display. As well as the flowers, there are good numbers of dragon and damselflies to be found as well as many other insects, you are free to walk wherever you want in the meadows that are open, but tread carefully.
Newly emerged dragonflies this week include southern hawkers becoming increasingly abundant, common darters are throughout the reserve and there was an early report of willow emerald on Friday too.
All trails are currently open and in good condition, the riverbank and Lackford Run flooded Monday- Wednesday, but all are passable now. The meadows are fully open for this weekend but on Monday the cattle will be grazing the first meadow to remove as much reed as possible, they should only be in there until Friday, the second meadow accessible from the riverbank will be open all week instead.
Insects should continue to increase in number and variety throughout the coming weeks, however I would expect swallowtail numbers to drop quite rapidly, white admirals will hopefully be on the wing for another couple of weeks and it would be nice if the silver washed fritillary stays for a while too. Birds tend to go quiet throughout July, however it can be a good month to see marsh harrier, and kingfishers. The fist passage waders of ‘autumn’ are returning with curlew flyovers being seen fairly regularly, hopefully the pool in front of Buckenham Hide will start to attract passage waders in the coming weeks as the water level decreases, the fen level will also be dropped over the next two to three weeks.