Wicken Fen

Another of my forays into deepest Essex with Ken actually ended up taking us into Cambridgeshire at Wicken Fen.  As we drove up the M11 it started to snow and we did contemplate retreating to a local cafe, but as we moved north the snow stopped and we were left with a cold grey day.   Quite a difference to my last trip when we were birding in shorts and T-shirts, watching squacco heron!

On arrival, we donned our layers and went off in search of some birdlife.   The lady in the visitor centre was most helpful and pointed out the areas where marsh harriers, hen harriers and short-eared owls had recently been seen.

Sedge Fen

We started off on the boardwalk from the visitor centre and made for the first hide.  From this we watched chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, robin and great-spotted woodpecker - all taking full advantage of the feeders present.   A moorhen flew up onto one of the feeding troughs and pecked at the peanut feeder above.

The wind water pump

After a while we moved off around Sedge Fen following the edge of the drainage ditches.   At the first tower hide overlooking Verrall's Fen we had distant views of marsh harrier, kestrel and a female bullfinch.   Cormorants, teal and greylag flew towards a nearby scrape.   At the second tower hide (which overlooked the aforesaid scrape) there were several barn owl pellets and a sign apologising for the mess.  A local owl has decided to take refuge in the hide and had certainly made its presence felt!
There were greylag on the water with a snow goose (it has been listed on and off at the site since October last year by the local ringing group).   Cormorants were loafing in a nearby tree, and mallard and wigeon dabbled in the water.  A short-eared owl made a fleeting visit, just long enough for me to spot it, but sadly Ken was not so lucky.   Konik ponies were keeping the fen in good order with their grazing.

Fieldfare

As we scanned the fens around us for any birds of prey Ken noticed a couple of bullfinches close by, as we watched two males and at least three females fed on nearby berries, giving their contact calls as they went.   As we walked from the hide they flew across to the other side of the dyke, still calling.

At the wind pump we caught up with more chaffinch, and blue tits.   Another harrier - this time a ring-tail appeared in the middle distance we watched as it dipped below the dyke at the far edge of the field hoping that it would reappear further along, but sadly this was not to be.   As we neared the visitor centre we watched blue tits, great tits, dunnock, chaffinch and robin on the feeders with pheasant, moorhen and wood pigeons below.

Afternoon sun on the fenland scrape

After a warming cup of tea and our lunch we were off again, this time to the other side of the reserve, an area where we were more hopeful of short-eared owls as they had been recently seen in good numbers feeding over Burwell Fen.   The sun came out and cleared the clouds away and although it was by no means warm, at least the cold edge was taken off the day for a short while.   Fieldfares were heard "chucking" away to each other and Ken got some good shots in the afternoon sunshine.   The highland cattle were being used in this area to keep the vegetation under control.  They looked superb in their thick winter shaggy coats.  

We continued across the fens towards Priory Farm with agricultural land on our left and the cattle on our right.   Half way across this area the farm gates were open to allow the cattle across and one inquisitive beast decided to stand in our way.  After a quiet conversation (between myself and the cow) we decided to proceed and the docile animal watched with interest, after a quick sniff of the tripod!  

Ken at the bridge sign

After a quick view over the fields at the delightfully named "Cockup Bridge" it was time to move on to the end of our walk as the sun began to set.   A further view of the scrape enabled up to catch up with wigeon and teal.

Another great visit, can't wait for the local RSPB group visit in May now.