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

Parkgate 12th February

Parkgate on Monday presented so many spectacles - the view of masses of birds against the industrial scenes on the other side of the estuary and the speed with which the water rushed in to inundate the marshes at high tide. There were lots of White Egrets catching the voles, flocks of Pipits and Skylark, hovering Kestrels, Herons etc.

Lady Fen, Welney WWT

 A group from the RPS and CCC Nature groups explored Lady Fen at Welney WWT both early morning and in the afternoon. Unfortunately the Hares were not showing themselves but there was plenty else to occupy us including large flock of Starlings, Kestrel, Buzzard, Cattle Egrets, Chinese Water Deer, 16-spot Ladybirds hibernating etc. We were also entertained by Whooper Swans flying out of the main reserve in the morning and in as sunset approached.

Winter Bird Survey Paxton

Great to meet up with everyone for the start of the monthly surveys at Paxton Pits. This month our survey was of the birds - we recorded 53 species with a few winter visitors among them - Golden Eye (large flocks on Island Pit}, Goosander pair and Redwings. Best sighting (and a long way off) group of Green Sandpipers.