Lady Fen Welney Sightings

A very enjoyable day at Welney yesterday in the company of RPS Nature group members and volunteers from Paxton Pits. The dull light all day did not lend itself to distant photography but I enjoyed the challenge of finding and capturing the variety of wildlife on Lady Fen in the fenland landscape. The first Short-eared Owl took us by surprise as it flew close and over the bank. Other views were more distant. In the afternoon Steve located a Hare in its 'form' - amazingly camouflaged - just the eye giving it away. Good to get some closer photography of the Tree and House sparrows and Stonechat. Three species of Egret (Cattle, Great and Little), two deer species (Roe and Chinese Water), Heron and Kestrel completed the roll call

Birds on Lady Fen Welney

Up till very recently, it would have been impossible to see three species of Egret, Little White, Greater White and Cattle Egrets, all together in England but here they are feeding together on Lady Fen Welney sharing the habitat with Grey Heron, Curlew and Pied Wagtail. It seems at Welney the Magpies have taken over from Jackdaws delousing the deer.

Welney Lady Fen

Welney Wildfowl Trust reserve only has the main hide and part of Lady Fen open due to flooding but we had a very enjoyable day there including a walk in the afternoon on Lady fen watching Cattle Egrets, Hares, Hares, Roe Deer and Tree Sparrows. The final image sums up the habitat and abundance of birdlife. The black bones showing through the feathers of the Cattle Egret in two of the images interested me.