A Sunny Morning On The Fen

At this time of year, as spring takes a firmer hold on our weather, those of us with an interest in wild birds can be found staring at any hedges and bushes from which twitterings and chirpings are spilling forth. We attract some strange looks.

We are at Baker's Fen, which is part of the large area of reedbeds and wild country centred on the National Trust's reserve at Wicken Sedge Fen. Not so long ago much of this was farmland, but the NT has pledged to buy up any fields which come up for sale and expand their holding, eventually to form a wild area reaching all the way to Cambridge.

But back to those eccentric people peering into the thickening foliage. What they are seeking is that group of small unobtrusive birds called Warblers, who are returning to these latitudes from their winter quarters. The first two we encountered were the Chiffchaff and the Blackcap - though they don't really count as some of each species remain here throughout the winter. 

Even so it's good to hear Chiffchaffs, the first sign of real spring, as well as the Blackcap which is one of my favourite songsters. Maybe you'd like to hear one too - and YouTube will allow us to do just that.

As you can see the male is well-named, though the females have brown caps, but look just as jaunty.

I've shown you Wicken Fen's remarkable tower hide before. It allows wide-ranging views across the area, but it's on the other side of the water so we'll not be climbing its steps this morning. We'll carry on alongside the "lode" - the local name for these man-made drainage channels and waterways.

I'm pretty sure that I've photographed that tree many times too, but today it had a strange soundtrack - a whirring, reeling, mechanical noise that seemed to be coming from several different directions. If you didn't know what it was you'd be unlikely to guess it was a bird singing. But that's what it is - a Grasshopper Warbler. YouTube to the rescue once again...

They don't usually sing out in the open like that; our bird was performing in some dense, scrubby vegetation - at least I think so; it was difficult to pin down exactly where the sound was coming from.

Willow trees can look marvellous with the sun shining through their catkins and new leaves. Nearby a Willow Warbler was in full song - it doesn't always work in that way - Willow Warblers in the willow trees - bird names can be very misleading. By the way, if you diligently click on all the links I've provided, you'll see that most of these warblers look much the same (especially the Chiffchaff and the Willow Warbler) - it's the songs that allow you to tell them apart.

The other migrant birds we encountered included a Reed Warbler (in a bush), Sedge Warbler (on a branch), Whitethroat and a Swallow.

When we got home Les looked at the online Cambridgeshire Bird Club page. Later in the day a Cuckoo was recorded on the fen. We'll save that one for next time!

Take care.