Had a first visit to RSPB Lakenheath Fen on 14th April, looking for a few new reserves to add to my wander around with the camera circuit. An area of reclaimed farmland there's a really good mix of reed beds
woods, and walks along the banks of the river. A lot of fun on the first really warm day of the year. There's a small visitor centre which was nice to visit for a list of birds in the area and a handy walk map.
The reed beds were booming with the calls of Bitterns. I could hear one rustling about and calling very near as I sat on a bench but it remained unseen... near but yet so far! Likewise I got a fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher as it sped past, a blue streak in the much appreciated sunlight. Two marsh harriers were also busy floating over the adjacent farmland during the day - a busy bird day all round.
A stretch of the reserve was cordoned off for nesting Eurasian cranes but I got good views of the general area from the footpath on the bank and look forward to exploring it later in the season. There was still a very large area of wetland and woodland to wander around.
The breeding and nesting season had brought out the Coot competition with some territorial fighting. A swan whose partner was nesting in the reeds nearby arrived to break up this particular fight.
Crested grebes were also visible nesting in the reeds
and there were some nice Gadwall along with the more common mallards, tufted ducks and mute swans.
Quite a few pochard were also swimming about and I saw my first Greylag goslings of the year.
The site has an area designed specifically for photographers / observing small birds which was a welcome novelty. Ground level hides with wooden seats, lens windows and camo netting sit in front of a small marsh area with some perches and feeders. They do photo courses but it seemed to be open to anyone to go and sit there, so I did. A nice place to spend some time - some good small birds came by with a great tit and goldfinch being particularly happy to pose.
Elsewhere wandering around I also got lucky with a few other small birds including a group of long tailed tits, one of whom who had been ringed sat still for a few seconds,
I also saw and heard quite a few reed buntings and managed to get one on camera in the end.
There were a couple of other birding hides around the site. One overlooking a popular pond had a notice about being time limited to two hours and was completely full when I went to visit it. One to check back on another time as the views looked good.
The wooded areas also proved interesting, lots of songbirds and a good looking male pheasant. I also surprised a Muntjac deer wandering around in the trees. Not a bird, but an enjoyable encounter nonetheless.
I saw a post on the site's facebook that the car park was used by illegal racers a week after I visited and the ground churned up. Some groundworks have been done and the site is open (with cameras now in place). Sad to hear but the volunteers working hard to make the site serviceable restore some faith that nicer things happen most of the time.
I'd recommend a trip if you are looking for a great mix of woods, reed beds, river banks and an enjoyable variety of birds.
