The breeding season is coming to an end now and most of our marsh harriers have fledged and many have dispersed from the site, but there is still plenty of high quality wildlife action to be found. One female bittern nest is still feeding young but the other nest seems to have fledged, with male, female and juvenile bitterns popping up daily in the last week. Kingfishers are also busy feeding their second brood in the nest and regularly seen fishing from the hides, and the newly fledged young should appear in front of the hides any day now. After their usual spring lull, otters are now being spotted most days, with male, female and young all being seen from reception hide in the last week. As the water level in the fen has fallen, up to 6 little egrets have been fishing in the shallow water and water rails have appeared on the muddy margins close to the hides.
Next door at Buckenham Marshes the recent rainfall has provided lots of shallow pools, and these have already attracted a variety of waders, including spotted redshank, greenshank, ruff, wood and green sandpiper and black tailed godwit. These waders are all heading south from their northern breeding grounds and we can expect even more over the next few weeks.
The reserve has been alive with butterflies, dragonflies and other insects recently, enjoying the abundance of both sunshine and rain that we have had.The main spring brood of swallowtails is now over (though the odd one might still be seen), but if you missed them keep an eye on the blog as we are expecting a better than average second brood in August. The wardens have seen plenty of swallowtail caterpillars in the depths of the fen, and yesterday we noticed five of them chomping thought the fennel in the nectar garden just outside reception hide, providing a great photo opportunity for visitors. if you want to see them, get here quickly as they are growing up fast.
Sunday 31st August. The old Male Marsh Harrier ("Harry") and the old female ("Harriet") were about today but did not spend much time over the reserve. A Hawk passed through as well. There were sightings of many ducks, especially Teal and Shoveler, with one Tower Hide occupant claiming a Spotted Creke. A couple Reed Warblers, Ruffs, Chinese Water Deer, the busy flocking "Tit family", Kingfisher and "the usual culprits" were all available for a good days viewing. I also spotted Common Lizards and a Shrew along the Fen Hide path.