A Couple of Hours in the Mere Hide

30th May 2025

A visit to Lakenheath Fen today in the hope some Bittern eggs had hatched and the parents were carrying out food flights to feed the young. There were two such flights at about 6am (we were told) so probably still a bit too early.

All very quiet at New Fen, although a single Kingfisher did put in a brief appearance on the far reeds which did allow a few record shots.

Further up the track a Black-tailed Skimmer had just caught what looks like a Tiger Cranefly Nephrotoma flavescens.

No Kingfishers at the Mere Hide today, but there were a few dragonflies around like these three pairs of Azure Damselflies ovipositing on the Water Mint just outside the hide.................

.......................and a handful of Four-spotted Chasers zipping around, only stopping occasionally for a rest.

I even managed to catch one in flight.

But the stars of the show today were the female Great Crested Grebe and her young, generally know by their nickname humbugs. Here she is with one of them.

And then there were two.

And then three, although one was on her back in the last two photos.

Here is one being fed a small Tench..................

.......................which it immediately gulped down.

Well, another great day at Lakenheath Fen, and it looks as if we'll be back for the Bitterns in a week or so.