A Morning On The Fen

Went for a walk around Burwell Fen this morning: neither as many birds, nor as many photographs, as I'd hoped, but a grand walk even so.

Burwell Fen is the first part of the National Trust's ambitious and far-reaching plan to return a substantial area of fenland back to something like it's original glory. This was once all wheat fields and potato fields; now it's being allowed to flood and revert to fen - no good for potatoes and wheat but excellent for the wildlife.

It's being kept in shape by these hardy creatures, Konik ponies from Poland, that roam semi-wild over a large area.

They are ably assisted by these wild-looking beasties, Scottish Highland cattle. Both the ponies and the cattle find food out here all year round and seem to get along amicably enough.

Some smaller beings were also finding a meal, like this Meadow Brown butterfly on a Teasel head.

Or this stunning Peacock butterfly. We're so used to seeing these that we don't always stop to admire their beauty. There are times when having a camera with you makes you see more than you otherwise might.

Flowers of Greater Bindweed are similarly under appreciated - and you certainly wouldn't want any choking the plants in your garden. I always knew it as Bell Vine till I looked it up in books. Those who like collecting silly folk-names for plants will be delighted to learn that it's also called Granny-Pop-Out-Of-Bed.

A Common Tern has found a pretty perch. It's amazing where they can settle with their tiny webbed feet. 

And here's a Roe Deer watching us thoughtfully as he takes a break in his grazing. They seem to be the commonest deer in this area of Cambridgeshire, taking over from the Muntjacs and Fallow Deer that are found in my part of the county.

And we'll leave it with a look back over Burwell Fen.

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But before I go here's a couple of pictures taken nearer to home:

Here's my local church taken from an unusual angle. This is the "back" of the church, its north-facing side, so it's only illuminated by the sun at either early morning or late evening during the height of summer. This was one evening near to Midsummer's Day.

And finally a portrait of the little Muntjac that regularly visits the grassy area just in front of my house, but rarely poses for photographs.

Take care.