Lakenheath Fen News March 2008

Habitat management

Only a wee bit of willow bashing was done this year, as most of the main areas of reed are now willow free.  However, Botany Bay required a bit of attention, and two volunteer work parties made light work of the rather large saplings that had sprung up along the banks around the grazing marsh. 
Other work on the reserve over the winter months has been focussed on making conditions even better for bitterns (it is quite good already, but the lack of a female is causing concern).  So, we’ve had diggers on site again, creating more pools and channels within the reed bed areas.  We’ve also created over 60 artificial ‘reefs’ to provide shelter and spawning sites for small fish like rudd (the favourite food of bitterns).  Grazing by swans, coots, and geese has resulted in very little floating vegetation in open water areas that the fish would usually use.  The reefs were made by tying bundles of willow together and sinking them with a concrete block – very technical!  This should hopefully increase the small fish population, and provide a good food source for bitterns. 
*** breaking news*** – a bittern has been heard booming (albeit slightly half-heartedly) on the reserve, this is the first March record for booming bittern here (and the earlier they boom the more successful they are likely to be!).  Fingers crossed! 

Events

Kirsty, our Visitor Information Officer held a number of well-attended events, most successful of which was a very successful Fun Run organised as part of the Get Fit for Wildlife campaign.  Thirty-nine runners took part (including one as far away as Woodbridge) and so far we’ve collected just under £600 sponsor money.   

Events for April to August are:

If you would like information about these events or would like to book onto one, please contact Kirsty Nutt on 01842 863400, or email us at Lakenheath@rspb.org.uk

Wildlife highlights – January to March

Single bittern reported 30th Jan and 5th March.  Good numbers of wildfowl with up to 150 gadwall, 50 shoveler, 30 wigeon, 120 teal, and 23 tufted duck towards the end of Jan. Marsh harrier numbers building slowly with up to four seen during Feb.  Single male hen harrier hunting over the reserve on 30th Jan.  Single buzzard over on the 27th Feb.  Single woodcock recorded occasionally throughout Jan and Feb.  Up to 20 snipe on reserve grazing marsh in early March.  Single tawny owl on 11th Feb. One pair of barn owls on the 17th Feb, plus regular sightings round the VC of a single bird.  The pied wagtail roost built up to 150+ birds through Feb.   Up to two pairs of stonechat were seen regularly near the VC and along the trails throughout Feb.  Cetti’s warbler heard on the 4th Jan.  First reserve record of a coal tit on the 20th Jan (on the feeder in the car park!).  A pair of marsh tits were seen on the 24th Feb, and a single willow tit recorded on 14th Jan and 27th Feb.  A single brambling was on the feeders on the 20th Jan.  A pair of redpolls were near the VC on 27th Feb.   A roost of 25 corn buntings was recorded on the 14th Jan, and a flock of 40 flew over the reserve on the 10th Feb.   
On the washland, a ring-billed gull was present on the 30th Jan along with five yellow-legged gulls, and a single Iceland gull was present occasionally from mid Jan.

Katherine Puttick, Warden - Lakenheath Fen, 12/03/08