Water Rails at Lakenheath Fen

26th January 2022

I go to Lakenheath Fen quite a lot, especially in the spring and autumn when the Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and Hobbys are at their best. However, it is a bit quieter at this time of year so what better than to spend a couple of hours in the Photography Station just behind the visitor centre.

The station overlooks a damp grassy area in front of a reed bed and features a few feeders to attract the birds. Now I refuse to photograph birds on feeders but this is not a problem here as there are plenty of strategically placed branches for the birds to alight on before going to the feeders, and of course a large natural Phragmites reedbed just 10 yards in front of the station. So time to just settle down and wait for the first birds to come.

Not too surprisingly there were plenty of tits coming to the feeders including Blue, Great and Long-tails.

Someone is obviously ringing nearby.

Just a single Robin was coming for food, but rather uncharacteristically keeping mainly in the background.

Finches were represented by a few Goldfinches and a solitary female Greenfinch which was great to see after their recent decline.

Reed Buntings were fairly plentiful as they spend much of their time feeding on the seeds on the Phragmites heads, but were also coming to the feeders and feeding on the spilt seed.

But the stars of the show today were the two Water Rails that were venturing out of the reeds to feed on the seed spilt from the feeders. Most of the time they were just 5 yards away so plenty of opportunities for some close-ups.

What an absolutely amazing experience.