Print pageStar species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Common terns migrate to Fen Drayton from west Africa, arriving in April. They can be seen flying gracefully over the lakes as they hover and swoop to grab fish and other small morsels of food from the water's surface. You might see male terns carrying fish to give to their mates as courtship gifts. |  |
Coots gather at Fen Drayton in nationally-important numbers in winter. You can watch them diving for food beneath the water or squabbling over territories in spring. |  |
This subtly plumaged dabbling duck occurs here in nationally-important numbers in winter. You can watch them 'upending' for aquatic vegetation. They look plain brown and grey from a distance, but closer up you can see their remarkably intricate plumage. |  |
Hobbies are falcons which arrive at Fen Drayton in late April, leaving in September. They are very agile and fast - they hunt small birds like martins, and dragonflies, which they catch with their feet. Watch carefully and you'll see them passing their prey up to their beaks to eat in flight! |  |
Huge numbers of lapwings gather here in winter. If a bird of prey, such as a peregrine, is in the area, they take to the air in a vast wheeling mass. |  |