NT Wicken Fen

We have visited Wicken Fen nature reserve in Cambridgeshire many times, but I don't think we have ever found the reserve as busy as it was last Saturday. It was, of course, half-term. It was also what I might describe as an exceptionally warm summer-in-spring day. Some (the agile ones) climbed the new temporary viewing tower and were able, for a few moments at least, to look beyond the crowded boardwalks to the expansive reed beds and wide skies that are such a feature of this area.

Perhaps with so many visitors about it was not surprising that we failed to see many birds. However we watched a Marsh harrier in the distance; and were treated to some lovely views of a Kestrel, as you can see in the photos below.

The small boat, the Mayfly, that is used for boat trips up the lode a bit later in the season was still in dock...

As I peered into a watercourse where we have seen Grass Snakes and Caddisfly larvae in summer, I noticed this rather fine (?duck) feather...

The windpump is such an iconic feature of this reserve, and those who follow my blog will know that I can never resist a shot or two...

We very rarely see Sparrows in our home patch so it is always a joy to hear their song when we walk down towards the Fenman's Cottage in Wicken.

Quite a few Sparrows were sporting their bird ringing bling...

Well, you know I find the wind pump an irresistible subject...

I felt the picture below represented the sense of 'winter into spring'...

Catkins have been in evidence for some weeks now, but this was my first 2019 sighting of Pussy Willow...

Yet more views of the wind pump...

... and the Kestrel.

I believe the tree below is an Alder, sporting its catkins and (false) cones...

Our last visit had been in November. Such a lot of work had taken place on the reserve since then. We don't ever remember seeing this pool area so clearly. You can see where reeds have been harvested.

I took my sketch book but that was as far I got: one of these days I will try to catch those sails in pen and ink...

There are some beautiful little signs around the reserve, like this one ...

... and this one on a wooden seat in an area where you can sit and watch dragonflies in the summer.

The area which forms the Butterfly Trail in summer is always one of my favourite parts of the reserve, and this area is also signed appropriately...

We noticed on our November visit that the path around the Butterfly Trail area of the woodland walk was receiving attention. This time the path had been smoothed out and, ramp apart, felt much safer for those of us who use walking sticks.

A huge amount of work had been done on the trees and bushes in this area: take a look at my photo below. I gather this is all part of good husbandry and conservation. I will watch this space with interest in the months to come to see what transformations take place.



We so enjoy looking out for species such as the Brown Argus on this part of the reserve. It is my favourite spot for doing the annual butterfly counts. You can read about the Wicken Fen Butterfly Trail here. A list of (named) butterflies seen in the area can be found here.

Like most people, I feel strongly that the next generation should be given every opportunity to enjoy nature and to learn the names of species for, surely, we care most about the things we know. Like Robert Macfarlane, Margaret Atwood, Mark Cocker and others, I feel sad that so many nature words were removed from the Oxford Junior Dictionary to make space for words that fitted the zeitgeist of our scientific and technological age. We need technology, but we also need biodiversity and literature to help us appreciate nature. During our time on the nature reserve, we spoke to members of one all-age party who were enjoying a checklist of wildlife (reminiscent of the popular I-spy books), ticking off the features and creatures they encountered, and listening out for the call that would identify a particular bird. I was impressed.

Having read a post on Jim's Birding Blog about visitors to the Brecks, I began to wonder on that busy Saturday, and this was February and not August, about the effect of the human footprint on the rare creatures (some brought to light during Chris Packham's Bioblitz in 2018) who live on the reserve.

I am still wondering...

We headed back to the entrance for a pot of Earl Grey (David and Caroline), a cheese scone (David) and a gingerbread sheep (guess who!). It was lovely to be able to drink our tea outside in such balmy conditions.

We listened to the Sparrows and watched them watching us...

We love the changing light and the way it affects the landscape. The sun was low by this stage of the day...

I have just found this site which gives quite a good summary of the reserve. And if you like facts and figures, this site might also be of interest!

It was time to leave the fen to its night-time creatures and head for home. 

A Quick Flit Around RSPB Minsmere

No prizes for guessing the setting of our expedition last weekend. I thought there was a Stonechat in the frame when I clicked the camera, but I don't seem to see it here.

There were, however, quite a few about, flitting between the grass and the rope - like the one above.




You can make out the coastguard cottages at Dunwich Heath on the rise, another favourite spot.



After a peep at the sea (where we missed a Mediterranean gull), we headed back past the pond for Earl Grey and tiffin, looking out over the reedbeds in the reserve.



We were the only ones sitting out, but wrapped up in outdoor clothing, the temperature seemed fine to me.




We walked past what were for me the first daffodil blooms of the season (a bit ahead of St David's Day), and headed for the Bittern Hide. An early Bittern had apparently been booming, but we failed to hear the call.

I soon heard a scuffle and watched this Grey Squirrel clambering up the trunk with a mouthful of dry leaves... yes, it's (almost) that time of year again! It was very furtive and I only managed this record shot before it disappeared from view.

It is very sad to think that in a week when some have spotted their first butterfly of the season (alas, I'm still waiting...), there have been further reports of the drastic demise of our insect populations. The pond above is a good place for odonata: I'm hoping there will still be a good show of dragons and damsels later on. And then, of course, the plans, for and the campaign against, the proposed Sizewell C power station continue: if you click the link, you will be able add your voice to the debate. I know life is rarely straight forward, but I find it very hard to understand why a structure of this kind should be built on neighbouring land to one of the UK's best nature reserves, which is home to numerous unusual, and in some cases, threatened, species. 

An old photo showing the proximity of the power station to the reserve

Looking for Frogspawn at Felixstowe

We took a short trip to the Landguard end of Felixstowe on Saturday afternoon to see if we could find any frogspawn. This area is monitored closely for wildlife by the Landguard Bird Observatory.

The weather was very grey, but mild. There were one or two rabbits in the scrub that fronts the container park for the port.



The photo above shows the backdrop. If you turn round, you can almost see the sea.

It only takes a few minutes to reach the pond. It seemed smaller than we remembered.

There was a lot of weed so it was difficult to distinguish one form of life from another.

I darkened my photo once I was home to see if a bit more contrast revealed anything further. What can you see?

The photo above shows the pond... and the one below shows two insects. I thought they might be a kind of water beetle but on enlarging the photo a bit, it is clear that they are a species of fly.

We may return in a few weeks. The photo below shows a scene from the same pond, taken on 10 March 2014...

If you come across clumps of frog spawn, do consider recording them here on the 2019 PondNet Survey.