This week we have seen some lovely bright and almost warm conditions (on Tuesday), however the latter stage of the week has seen a return to cold and fairly wet conditions.
The birds around the fen have certainly started to notice the lengthening of daylight hours and have responded with some early singing and even some drumming from the great spotted woodpeckers in the woodland. The bird highlights from this week have included a ringtail hen harrier at dusk on Tuesday along with a water pipit flying over at the same time, probably flushed by the harrier. Marsh harrier numbers are still up in the twenties to roost and in the past few days an increase in males has been noticed, getting back early to claim the best territories. The woodland has a subtle cover of fresh green growth with snowdrops in full flower, while daffodils, lords and ladies as well as cleavers and nettles are all showing their leaves.
Bearded tits have been seen and heard at various locations around the fen, cetti’s warblers are piping up from the small willows around the paths, kingfishers have been seen from Reception, Fen and Tower Hide in the past few days as well as feeding well in the ditch by the meadows. Otters have been seen on and off throughout the past two weeks, but with few visitors there have been less reports.
Buckenham has seen a flock of 1000 pink footed geese, 26 white-fronted geese, a handful of dunlin, 30 ruff and several hundred wigeon.
The path to Fen hide has had its biannual top up to allow access to the hide without the need for wellingtons (it was up to your ankles in soft mud five years ago!!), so the path to Fen Hide is in good condition, the riverbank path toward Tower Hide is quite muddy and slippery in places so wellingtons are recommended for that part of the reserve. The woodland loop is in a fair condition at the moment and is ok with good footwear.