Due to high water levels on the Ouse Washes the largest number of birds to see are diving ducks in the day and swans from dusk. Lady Fen is providing the greater variety of birds with fantastic views from the visitor centre.
2 min read • 20 January 2020
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The Ouse Washes are currently providing an essential role as a flood relief area. The high water levels on the reserve are protecting tens of thousands of hectares of farmland and thousands of homes in towns and villages, all along the River Great Ouse. The depth of the water on the reserve is resulting in fantastic numbers of diving ducks during the day - particularly pochard, with tufted ducks in amongst the flock. The swans that have been feeding out in the fields throughout the day are returning to the reserve at dusk, gliding down onto the water in front of the main hide. Good numbers of swans can be seen at the floodlit feeds on Saturdays and Sundays.
Lady Fen is providing a greater variety of birds, with the best views from the visitor centre and carpark. If you arrive before the centre opens at 10am, bring a hot drink and from the car park you can enjoy watching the swans flying out. During the day enjoy watching flocks of wigeon, lapwing and golden plover, as well as highlights including pintail, shoveler, teal, shelduck, great white egret.
Today's sightings: Whooper swan Mute swan Pochard Mallard Wigeon Shoveler Teal Pintail Tufted duck Cormorant Little egret Common gull Black-headed gull Herring gull Great crested grebe Water rail - heard calling Moorhen Coot Lapwing Golden plover Snipe Dunlin Barn owl Short-eared owl Marsh harrier Kestrel Buzzard Sparrowhawk Song thrush Blackbird Starling Green woodpecker Stonechat Goldfinch Goldcrest Reed bunting Tree sparrow House sparrow
