RSPB Lakenheath Fen

Experience the peacefulness in winter, the clamour of spring birdsong, or the joy in summer of butterflies, dragonflies and plants. 

At Lakenheath Fen, the RSPB has converted an area of arable farmland into a large wetland, consisting mainly of reedbeds and grazing marshes. The new reedbeds have attracted hundreds of pairs of reed warblers and sedge warblers, as well as bearded tits and marsh harriers.

Sightings Diary 2009

Friday, 18 September 2009
Another osprey was present early morning 14 September but did not linger. Hobbies continue to be seen, often catching migrant hawkers around the poplars. Cranes are still being seen regularly but are wandering further afield lately, sometimes calling in at WWT Welney. Bearded tits are quite noisy and mobile at this time of year and have been quite easy to catch up with. One small group seen leaving the reedbed and heading into the poplar trees around the carpark though was unusual.

Tuesday, 8 September 2009
A ringtail hen harrier, seen from the Joist Fen viewpoint 8 September, was the earliest recorded date for this species by two days. Hobbies are particularly easy to see at the moment, often around the poplar woods or over the large washland pool. A couple of spotted flycatchers and a marsh tit are still hanging around with a tit flock in Brandon Fen. A wheatear was seen 4 September and what must be the last swifts of the year flew over south 6 September.

Thursday, 3 September 2009
A lesser whitethroat amongst migrant willow warblers was a good record for the reserve 28 August (see 20 April). An osprey caught a fish on the river then flew off south 30 August, hopefully one will decide to hang around for a few days this autumn instead of moving straight through. Five garganies were amongst teal on the washland 31 August, they can be tricky to pick out at this time of year its best to look for a distinct pale spot near the bill. A family party of spotted flycatchers 31 August confirmed breeding success this year. A late swift was seen 27 August amongst good numbers of swallows,and martins moving south. A marsh tit was unusual 2 September.

Both stoat and weasel were seen 2 September.

Thursday, 20 August 2009
Cranes continue to be seen regularly, three were soaring together over the carpark recently. Spending some time at the Joist Fen viewpoint however remains the best place to get a sighting. Hobbies have become more obvious lately with birds often seen feeding on the increasing number of migrant hawker dragonflies. Whimbrel, greenshank and green sandpiper were all seen 17 August. Five buzzards and a sparrowhawk were overhead 19 August along with two garganies and a wigeon on the washland. A few bright yellow juvenile willow warblers are passing through on their way south. Blackcaps, garden and reed warblers can all be seen feeding in elderberry bushes around the reserve.

Thursday, 6 August 2009
Two black terns were on the washland today, looking less classy than they would have done in spring but very welcome nevertheless. Ten common terns were also present including two juveniles. All were sat on the the pink mat of amphibious bistort which covers the large pool at the moment and looks rather splendid. 11 little grebes was a good count. Just one green sandpiper however reflects the water levels on the river, which are presently better for terns than waders. Two hobbies were overhead.

Wednesday, 5 August 2009
After a couple of weeks of wing exercises and practice sorties the young crane is now flying as well as the adults. All three birds are now regularly seen in flight as they move around and occasionally on the ground in grazed areas of the reserve. The final number of fledged marsh harriers for 2009 was 26 from 11 nests. Ten black-tailed godwits flew south 23 July, two greenshanks and a green sandpiper were on the river 5 August.

Migrant hawker was new for the year 31 July.

Monday, 20 July 2009
After having been very unobtrusive for the last few months while nesting, the cranes have reappeared from the depths of the reedbed. Both adults and a single juvenile are now often visible from the Joist Fen viewpoint. The young bird can sometimes be seen exercising its wings and attempting short flights. Three bittern nests were confirmed, this is the first year breeding has been proven here, birds are still seen regularly over the reedbed. Golden orioles fledged four young from two nests, they are still seen occasionally but are difficult to locate at this time of year. They will have left by the middle of August. 11 marsh harrier nests have so far produced 17 young and bearded tits appear to have had a good year. Five turtle doves, two green sandpipers and a single whimbrel were seen 17 July.

Southern hawker was new for the year 19 July.

Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Young marsh harriers are appearing throughout the reserve, with 12 fledged to date. These dark-chocolate brown, orange-headed birds are best looked for sitting precariously atop willow bushes within the reedbed. Family parties of bearded tits are moving, often noisily, through the reedbed and bittern flights are still very regular. All these birds are best seen from the Joist Fen viewpoint. A unusual mid-summer osprey flew over 26 June, with 15 black-tailed godwits the same day. Green sandpipers are already returning with up to six seen around the reserve.

A visit from the Suffolk Moth Group produced a marsh carpet moth. Common darter was new for the year 2 July.

Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Two golden oriole chicks fledged 23 June, they have flown to branches near the nest and continue to be fed by the adults. They will stay around the nest area for the next few days before disappearing into the poplars. A pair of spotted flycatchers are in East Wood and turtle doves continue to be seen around the car park. A red kite flew over 21 June.

Brown hawker was new for the year 21 June.

Monday, 15 June 2009
Due to improvements to the entrance road the reserve will be closed on Wednesday 17 June all day. Please do not park on road side verges as this will cause a traffic hazard. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Monday, 8 June 2009
A golden oriole nest in West Wood is visible from the main track through the reserve, eggs in this nest hatched on 6-7 June. The next two weeks will provide an excellent opportunity for visitors to see both the male and female as they feed young in the nest. Staff or volunteers will be on hand to show visitors the birds through a telescope, certainly over the weekends and at other busy times. If all goes well the young will fledge around 21 June.

Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Bearded tits, bitterns, garganies, golden orioles, hobbies and marsh harriers continue to be seen regularly. Another spoonbill flew over 16 May as did a red kite 23 May. Turtle doves were around the carpark 24-25 May raising hopes the breeding pairs have returned.

Small coppers are now on the wing. A painted lady was seen 21 May, the vanguard of a large influx of this species countywide 23-24 May. Banded demoiselles were along the river 21 May. Fine weather for the dragonfly walk 24 May led to broad-bodied and scarce chasers, black-tailed skimmer and red-eyed damselfly being recoded for the first time this year.

Tuesday, 12 May 2009
The purple heron was last seen late in the evening 8 May, it headed off high to the north east. There are now three singing male golden orioles present, with two females also noted. Hobby numbers are at a peak right now, the secong half of May sees numbers begin to drop off. The windy conditions have made numbers difficult to calculate as they zip around very quickly close to the reeds or very high. More still conditions sees them congregate in a tighter flock, making numbers easier to estimate - there are however in excess of 40. A turtle dove flew through 11 May, the 1-2 pairs that usually nest around the carpark have not turned up, but there is still time perhaps. A single black tern was over the washland 11 May.

Four-spotted chaser dragonflies are now on the wing along with blue-tailed and azure damselflies. Two otters were seen 10 May.
 
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
A honey buzzard flew north over the Joist Fen viewpoint 2 May, a red kite was seen the same day. A purple heron flew into New Fen north at midday 3 May. An hour later it flew out over the river and landed in a ditch near the large washland pool, where it remained hidden for most of the following day. A common sandpiper along the river 4 May was almost as rare a sighting on the reserve as the three previous species.

Friday, 1 May 2009
Two singing male golden orioles were heard 27 April, one in West Wood the other in East Wood. They have been heard singing occasionally since then, mostly in the mornings. Two spoonbills were seen 29 April and again 30 April. At least 40 hobbies were together over the reedbed 30 April, an amazing sight.

Speckled wood was new for the year 25 April.

Tuesday, 28 April 2009
The reserve in late April / May is an excellent place to hear and see cuckoos, this traditional herald of spring appears to have become more difficult to see in the wider countryside in recent years. The first one was heard 22 April. Swifts were first noted 24 April and now there are good numbers feeding over the reedbed. Hobbies are amassing with 17 recorded together 26 April. Hobbies appear to show little interest in the nearby swifts at this time of year, preferring to feed on insect prey. Single whimbrels flew over calling 24 and 26 April, garden warbler was new for the year 25 April. Bitterns are perhaps easier to see now on the reserve than at any other time of year.

The suuny weather saw the first large red damselfly 19 April, common blue 25 April and hairy dragonfly 23 April. Green-veined white and orange-tip were new for the year 23 April.

Monday, 20 April 2009
Summer migrants continue to arrive with house martins first noted on 11 April in amongst good numbers of swallows and sand martins. A willow warbler was singing 13 April, the first whitethroat was seen the following day. Many whitethroats have now arrived and are easily heard and seen around the reserve. Interestingly lesser whitethroat has never been recorded on the reserve, so this is the one to find. A little ringed plover was on the washland 16 April, with the first common tern 18 April. A nightingale was singing around the carpark 18 April. The first hobby of the year was over the reedbed 19 April.

Saturday, 11 April 2009
The season has definitely shifted with plenty of migrant birds now arriving and the wintering species slipping away. The great grey shrike has departed it was last seen 3 April, hopefully it will return later in the year. Blackcap was first recorded for the year 31 march. At least one pair of garganey is hiding amongst the washland vegetation, first seen 1 April. A swallow or two were next 2 April with yellow wagtail 4 April. Another osprey was reported 7 April fishing on the washland for half an hour before flying off down river chased by gulls. The reedbed has begun to emit warbler sound again with the first sedge warbler 7 April, reed warbler 10 April and grasshopper warbler 11 April. There are now good numbers of sedge warblers back and the reedbed is buzzing and churring away nicely, this is interspersed with the odd boom and ping and everythings alright with the world.
 
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
A bittern was booming for the first time this year 29 March, this is the first record of a March boomer. Early booming is an encouraging sign and bodes well for a breeding attempt. Up to six buzzards were seen the same day, a ringtail hen harrier was recorded 30 March and marsh harriers are impossible to miss. A few chiffchaffs are around the reserve and 20 sand martins were along the river 30 March. A willow tit not seen but heard calling was a good record for the reserve.

Friday, 27 March 2009
An osprey flew along the river then off purposefully northwards at 3.00pm this afternoon. Two cranes were seen and the shrike remains.

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