Nature Notes June 2023

Nature Notes June 2023

Warm sunny days have been in short supply recently, so we made the most of a day promising both and went to RSPB Lakenheath Fen. Twenty years ago this was a series of carrot fields which have been transformed into a vast area of reed beds and pools, with willow bushes and poplar trees in certain areas. Willow seeds were being dispersed by the wind. Each seed has a parachute of fluff attached, so that it can drift considerable distances before getting caught in the vegetation.

Some Reed Warblers were singing their unexciting chatter from deep in the reeds, while others were very busy going backwards and forwards, obviously with food for the young in their nests. A large pale brown bird, streaked with darker tones, flapped determinedly away from the reeds near where we were watching, crossed the wide pool and continued over the reeds, to pitch a quarter of a mile away in a further reed bed: the Bittern was also feeding young. They are very secretive for most of the year, being extremely well hidden in their habitat by their wonderfully camouflaged plumage, but can be seen commuting between nest site to hunting grounds when they have a nest full of growing chicks.

The sun had brought out the dragon and damselflies and we were delighted to see three Scarce Chaser dragonflies resting together on a sheltered hawthorn bush. These are very distinctive when they first emerge as they have bright orange sides to the abdomen and similar coloured veining in the wings. There were also a few larger Hairy Dragonflies with bright green bodies, and many black and blue Azure and Variable Damselflies, so we were surprised that there were no Hobbys hunting for their favourite prey over the pools. On our way home we stopped at Foulden Common and again were surprised how behind the flowers were compared to a ‘normal’ year. There were still a few Cowslips in flower and the egg-yolk yellow Horseshoe Vetch was only just coming out, with the only other colour being the minute blue flowers of Milkwort.

Closer to home Judith watched a pair of Blackbirds driving a Kestrel away from their nesting area, while Jo has had a Green Woodpecker hunting for ants on her lawn and three Hares in the garden. She was also pleased to find lots of Heartease growing on the roadside bank.

Do let me know if you see any interesting wildlife (rachel.42rr@btinternet.com)