As well as being rather hot, It seems that the reserve is well and truly going through a purple patch at the moment. The unusual sightings began in earnest on Sunday afternoon when five crossbills (two adults and three juveniles) were drinking in the pools along side Trial Wood.
Monday bought more surprises, with two kingfishers and two common terns feeding around Brandon Fen. As previously reported, four white storks flew over late afternoon. Hopefully some photos will follow shortly. One of these was also seen from Joist Fen viewpoint at teatime:
Photo credit Lee Gregory
It’s a purple heron, which is a scarce visitor from the continent. This is only the forth record of this species on the reserve. The last record was back in May 2009, and is the bird was the bird photographed above.
Sadly, the bird was only seen twice and there was no sign yesterday morning. However, singles of avocet and greenshank flew over Joist Fen viewpoint. A quail was also flushed nearby and a golden oriole was in the poplar woods.
A red kite flew over Joist Fen viewpoint at lunchtime today and there were several hobbys around. Several grass snakes were out basking in the sun and a common lizard also put in an appearance. With all of this great wildlife, the question we are all asking is whatever next?! We hope to see you soon.
It seems that the reserve is well and truly going through a purple patch at the moment. The unusual sightings began in earnest on Sunday afternoon when five crossbills (two adults and three juveniles) were drinking in the pools along side Trial Wood.
After last Thursday’s incident with the white stork, we thought we had heard the last of it. However, we have just been proved wrong by the four white storks that were just photographed flying over the reserve. What is going on?! Hopefully we will have be able to share them soon but until then:
Photo credit Amberlee Foote
We hope to see you soon
We hope to see you soon!
.......... You wait for for one ages and four turn up as once. Yes, you did read it right, four! We were lucky enough to see four bitterns display flying high over New Fen viewpoint this morning. It was amazing! At least three were flying around together for at least ten minutes. Hopefully somebody managed to photograph them. Here is one from a couple of months ago to whet your appetite:
Photo credit Dave Rogers
Rewind to Friday, and at least 40 hobbys were feeding over Joist Fen viewpoint. Staying on the bird of prey theme, an osprey was seen over the washland by several lucky visitors that evening. An otter was also seen near New Fen viewpoint.
There was plenty going on yesterday morning and a male golden oriole flew over the river out of West Wood only to return to another wood further down. Its amazing the lengths these birds go to in order to avoid detection!
A bittern was seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint and several bearded tits were showing near the viewpoint. Their was also high drama as a kestrel dive bombed one of the local barn owls in an attempt to mob it of its prey. On this occasion, the barn owl won and the kestrel was left disappointed!
In the heat of the day, several reptiles were seen. A common lizard scuttled across the car park and a young grass snake was on the grass outside the visitor centre. Several dragons and damsels were out and about including a banded demoiselle feeding near Joist Fen viewpoint.
Back to this morning, a common sandpiper flew along the river and there were several cuckoos flying around. At least one golden oriole was playing hide and seek in the poplar woods and several hobbys were out and about. A whimbrel flew over and there was a summer plumaged dunlin nearby. We hope to see you soon.