Today's sightings - 02/01/2020
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.
Mute swan
Whooper swan
Greylag goose
Great crested grebe
Shelduck
Shoveler
Mallard
Tufted duck
Pochard
Wigeon
Teal
Coot
Moorhen
Great egret
Little egret
Grey heron
Ruff
Redshank
Dunlin
Lapwing
Golden plover
Black-headed gull
Lesser black-backed gull
Common gull
Fieldfare
Redwing
Meadow pipit
Reed bunting
Tree sparrow
House sparrow
Goldfinch
Stock dove
Pheasant
Kestrel
Marsh harrier
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Red kite
Barn owl
Short-eared owl
Mammals
Muntjac
Brown hare
Roe deer
