Lakenheath - Great Crested Grebe Family

What a delight on our RPS/CCC Nature Group outing to watch a Great Crested Grebe pair with their three exotically striped youngsters at close range for an hour. At first, we thought there were only two young but a third ones emerged from the adult's feathers when it decided to have a vigorous shake.

Bearded Tits at RSPB Lakenheath

A beautiful sunny day for a walk at Lakenheath reserve. Definite lack of birds - these were the only species that we saw but such a delight to watch this group of Bearded Tits  feeding in the reeds. I couldn't stay long but others in our CCC group got some great shots when one perched on a single tall reed!

It's Behind You - Spiders at Lakenheath

Although not as plentiful as previous autumns, there were plenty of different spiders and harvestmen at Lakenheath on Wednesday - this wren was hunting for food in the undergrowth but somehow missed this one or perhaps it is not a palatable food item. Despite searching widely, I haven't located any literature on which species of spiders are or are not eaten by birds. Possible species ID: Harvestman Leiobunum rotundum, Araneus marmoreus, Araneus quadratus, Pisaurus mirabilis. (For next year's ID help - Ruddy Darter (black legs), Common Darter (striped legs))

Lakenheath Flies and Bees etc

 A few more images from Lakenheath on Wednesday. The flies were the most numerous insects including two new species for me Ceroxys urticae (Picture-winged Fly) and Sargus bipunctatus (Twin-spot Centurion), plus Coremacera marginata a snail-killing fly, Scathophaga stercoraria. Wasps were common as most places with Carder bees active in the few flowers that were out.

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Lakenheath Landscapes, Robin and Rats

A final few from our visit to Lakenheath RSPB reserve last week. I always enjoy the wide open vistas - hard to believe it was Poplar woodland (Bryant and May matches) and carrot fields when we first visited in the 1970s. The young rats in final image were intriguing in the way they wrapped themselves around the bird feeder.

Lakenheath birds I

Great to visit Lakenheath yesterday on a chilly but mostly sunny day and to meet up with John and Christine. We were greeted in the car park by the sound of bugling Cranes and had two different sightings of pairs of Cranes. The Coots were definitely paired with no squabbling but the very pristine Great Crested Grebe did not appear to have a mate. More passerines to follow.