Today's sightings - 01/01/2020
Due to high water levels on the Ouse Washes the largest number of birds to see are diving ducks in the day and swans from dusk. Lady Fen is providing the greater variety of birds, great views from the visitor centre.
The Ouse Washes are currently providing an essential role as a flood relief area. The high water levels on the reserve are protecting tens of thousands of hectares of farmland and thousands of homes in towns and villages, all along the River Great Ouse. The depth of the water on the reserve is resulting in fantastic numbers of diving ducks during the day - particularly pochard, with tufted ducks in amongst the flock. The swans that have been feeding out in the fields throughout the day are returning to the reserve at dusk, gliding down onto the water in front of the main hide. Good numbers of swans can be seen at the floodlit feeds on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lady Fen is providing a greater variety of birds, with the best views from the visitor centre and carpark. If you arrive before the centre opens at 10am, bring a hot drink and from the car park you can enjoy watching the swans flying out. During the day enjoy watching flocks of wigeon, lapwing and golden plover, as well as highlights including pintail, shoveler, teal, shelduck, great white egret.
New Year's Sightings:
Bewick's swan
Whooper swan
Mute swan
Pochard
Tufted duck
Pintail
Mallard
Shoveler
Wigeon
Teal
Gadwall
Greylag goose
Moorhen
Coot
Lapwing
Golden plover
Black-tailed godwit
Redshank
Snipe
Dunlin
Ruff
Spoonbill
Crane x3 (in flight)
Great egret
Little egret
Grey heron
Cormorant
Tree sparrow
House sparrow
Reed bunting
Stonechat x 2
Meadow pipit
Cetti's warbler
Great tit
Blue tit
Long-tailed tit
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Robin
Wren
Dunnock
Blackbird
Song thrush
Mistle thrush
Starling
Green woodpecker
Stock dove
Wood pigeon
Collard dove
Jay
Magpie
Rook
Jackdaw
Carrion crow
Pheasant
Barn owl
Peregrine
Marsh harrier
Buzzard
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Black-headed gull
Common gull
Herring gull
Lesser black-backed gull
Greater black-backed gull
Mammals:
Roe deer
Weasel - outside Cafe
