The Group was blessed with good weather for our visit to Wood Walton Fen which was founded by the Rothschild banking family at around the same time as Wicken Fen. The bungalow from the early days remains and is adorned with significant flood marks and other marks showing how the ground level has shrunk over the years despite attempts to keep the water level high. Seven members attended.

We were surrounded by warbler song as we made our way to the reed bed on the north side of the site. Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and a few Willow Warbler were calling as were Song Thrush, Wren, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.

On our way to the south end of the site we heard Bittern booming and Cuckoo Calling. We spent some time trying to decide the difference between Blackcap and Garden Warbler song and we did get a view of a Willow Warbler singing nearby.

At the next hide overlooking a good sized lake we saw Greylag and Canada geese, Little Grebe, Coot and we had distant views of Buzzard and Marsh Harrier. The Highlight was a bittern flying across which did a couple of circles before flying off into the distance. It reminded us that bittern like many water fowl are not particularly strong or elegant fliers. They are more designed for life on the ground in the reed beds than and their prowess in the air is somewhat limited. It contrasts with Grey Heron which are graceful in the air and do not appear to as much effort into staying airborne as does the Bittern!