Another week of contrasting weather; warm sunshine at times followed by thunderstorms and persistent rain on Friday, quite a typical spring week.
The birds have been continuing to arrive from Africa throughout the week with additions including reed warbler, grasshopper warbler and common tern. The grasshopper warbler has been reeling all week from its usual spot at the end of Sandy Wall, if you hear a grasshopper at this time of the year chances are it is actually a bird! The penduline tit was last seen on Monday, where it was showing well at the Lackford Run corner by the river, but has not been seen since (it may well still be about but being secretive once again). Another slight surprise was a female hen harrier at Rockland on Friday morning, these birds should be heading off to their breeding grounds soon. Two cranes were seen circling over the fen on Wednesday calling and touring the site for all to see. Also on Wednesday two bitterns were seen chasing each other circling in front of Fen Hide for at least 10 minutes. This may have either been a male chasing a female or perhaps two birds from Scandinavia trying to gain height and head back across the North Sea, lets hope its the former!
Mammal sightings this week have included otter and stoat on Thursday as well as Chinese water deer and muntjack on most days.
Insects have once again continued to emerge in the warmer weather; the highlight being the first butterfly species of the year to emerge, the orange tip. These delicate white butterflies are often seen feeding on cuckooflower, beware the female does not have ‘orange tips’. Butterfly numbers in general have increased and whenever the sun shines now you are likely to see the yellow of a brimstone or a peacock fluttering past.
The increase in insect life and migrants should continue through the week, with reed warblers and common terns in particular beginning to make their presence known. Cuckoo’s may me seen in the next week at the fen so keep your eyes and ears out for this star species.