Reed Warblers

 Late afternoon at Fowlmere RSPB reserve - the  Reed Warblers were busy collecting nesting material.

Fowlmere Vigil

 We visited Fowlmere RSPB reserve this afternoon and waited to supposedly see the Hen Harrier come in to roost in the late afternoon. Well we waited and waited and got colder and colder but no Hen Harrier. Here is a selection of birds that kept us company including the rare Four-Winged Greylag. Only one ChiffChaff heard - a late spring indeed and the Fieldfares are obviously waiting for the Easterly wind to turn around before returning home.

Heron at Fowlmere

This was virtually the only bird that I saw today on a snowy walk round RSPB reserve at Fowlmere. It is presumably the same Heron that was swimming on our previous visit.

Fowlmere Birds in Winter Sun

 A few more images from Fowlmere yesterday. The Moorhens were disputing territory, as alway,s so there was quite a lot of chasing and splashing. The Kinfisher looked beautiful in the low winter light on the little tree but didn't stay to fish unlike the Heron who remained there the entire visit. We were delighted to see the Water Rail - always surprised at how small they are compared to a moorhen.

An Hour in the Life of a Heron

 This Heron caught two large Perch and one small one during the hour that we spent in the Tower Hide at Fowlmere. He waded through the water up to his belly a lot of the time and sometimes actually paddled along when the feet were off the bottom.

Fowlmere Tree Creeper and Garden Dunnock

No sign of the Kingfisher from the Spring Hide but a very close Tree Creeper was some compensation. It pulled a grub out from the bark.

The Dunnock was in full song in the garden this morning along with the first ChiffChaff of this spring.