Nature Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve In the last issue of the Magazine we reported the water in the mere had dried up at Fowlmere RSPB nature reserve. However, with of plentiful rainfall at the end of 2019 and the start of 2020 the mere and water all around the reserve are now virtually back to normal levels, as can be seen in the image above. This, in turn, has brought in birds and wildlife, although the numbers and species haven’t yet quite recovered. In this article, local birder Ade Cooper sets out his diary for the months of October, November, December and the New Year. By mid-October, up to 85 Redwing came into roost, but didn’t stay long. Also at least 200 Reed Bunting were seen, a good total. Two Teal, a Kingfisher, a Cettis Warbler and a Snipe were seen around the mere area. The mere had a bit of water, enough to bring in 46 Mallard. At least 5 Chiffchaff could be seen in the scrub. Remarkably a female Stonechat was briefly spotted on the mere edge and 2 Redpoll flying over. Both are the reserve’s first records of the year. A really pleasant surprise was the discovery of a Barn Owl nesting in the box in front of reed-bed hide, with a single almost fully-grown nestling perching on the nest box shelf Barn Owl – Not very good photos, it was a bit far for my camera without the scope but you can clearly see the down
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and trying to branch out. This is the first time the box has been used for nesting and probably by a different pair to those that raised two young elsewhere on the reserve earlier in the year. On the third weekend of October, it was sunny and calm when a Skylark or Meadow Pipit flew by. Most unexpected sight were 5 Stonechat: three females were out by the solar farm just off the centenary end, with a male and female appearing in the reeds by the mere. A Teal, 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Snipe were also seen around the mere. Two Siskin were seen Below: a female Stonechat and bottom: a male Stonechat
