March 13th Strumpshaw Fen

Coot

A very stormy first shift at Strumpshaw as a 33 year old today. Winds of about 50-60mph were hammering the reserve. It was a bit nervy sitting inside the Fen Hide this morning as the wooden structure rattled and creaked, making me feel uneasy like it was going to collapse on me! I only stayed for a few minutes, seeing a Chinese water deer and some coots, before deciding to escape and made my way to the Tower Hide. Surprisingly, despite being exposed to the elements, the Tower Hide felt more stable and safe. It also provided a few more birds than anywhere else on the reserve, just. From here, I counted 8 pochards, 2 tufted ducks, about 10 shovelers and 10 teal, a few gadwall that dwindled to two individuals, 2 shelducks, 2 moorhens, a couple or so greylags, 2 displaying marsh harriers and countless black-headed gulls.

Shoveler

Gadwall

Teal



Pochard

Tufted Ducks

Shelduck

Greylag

Mute Swan

Black-headed Gull

Marsh Harrier

Coltsfoot

Stormy scenes at Reception Hide

Because of the strong high winds, half the reserve was closed off, stopping visitors from getting crushed by a fallen tree in the woodland trail. There wasn't much to see anyway as most of the wildlife were more than likely sheltering from the wind. Inside the Reception Hide, the gales were battering the front of the hide with rain drops obscuring the windows. White horses were forming on the surface of the broad and the reeds and trees swayed violently. Coots and (towards the end of my shift) greylags were the main things brave enough to swim amongst it all, while marsh harriers seemed to revel in the powerful gusts as they continued their sky dancing. In fact, these blustery conditions seemed to be in their favour, making them perform even more elaborate aerial dance moves. A sparrowhawk also made a couple of low flybys right by the hide as it made its leave from its latest raids on the bird feeders, unsuccessfully both times.

Coot

A faint rainbow