Cuckoos, Marsh Harriers and a Dose of Cuteness Overload

9th May 2024

Time for a visit to Fowlmere to see how things are settling down for the summer. Immediately the main difference from my last visit was the sound of Cuckoos, now you know summer has arrived. Two birds were flitting area the area of the Reedbed Hide and one eventually landed high up in a willow tree. At first it was sitting in shade but then moved to a more favourable position allowing a few shots

I was poised for the Cuckoo to fly when it was attacked by a Carrion Crow, and because I was ready I managed to get a shot of the Cuckoo departing. Not quite the shot I had in mind but that will do.

I am not quite sure what was happening with the harriers. The male brought food in at 7.00am and left again at 7.05am, and did not return until 2.00pm, an absence of 7 hours. During this time the female was at the nest and had a short fly around at 8.00am and 10.00am and then at about mid-day left the nest for 20 minutes, but never left the site.

I still believe the female is on eggs or has very small young, and from my visit on the 5th April and today I calculate that the young could fledge in the latter half of June. So why was the male away from the site for so long? Well, it is a long shot but possible that he has another female with nest nearby and is therefore trying to feed two nests, which is not uncommon. 

So now on to the cuteness overload. The River Shep has always had Water Voles ever since I started visiting the site 10 years ago but I have never been successful in seeing them there, only brief views from the Drewer and Spring Hides. But this year they seem to be doing particularly well and have been seen and photographed so off I set.

Luckily I hadn't gone far when I came across a couple of photographers who were busy snapping away, so I joined in, after all it would be rude not to.

WOW!!!!!!