Animals, plants and the changing habitats themselves, are monitored by a team of volunteers and staff.
If you can help with this monitoring, please contact
Henry Stanier the Great Fen Monitoring and Research Officer.
Details of some of the animals and plants that can be seen at this time of year in different parts of the Great Fen
Kingfisher
Chris Gomersall, 2020 vision
Monitoring Project sightings
Date: Sun,18th Sep 2016
Species: Birds
Location: Rymes Reedbed (Holmelode Farm) North
364 birds of 17 species
The early morning was lovely for doing a survey. Not too warm and little wind. There were not many birds about though, and total numbers are deceptively high because of the large number of geese returning to Caldecote Mere. Partway through the survey the Sun broke through more strongly and the temperature rose. At this point there was a sudden rise in insect numbers.
Species seen included 2 Buzzard, 258 Canada Geese, 6 Carrion Crow, 2 Dunnock, 14 Goldfinch, 5 Grey Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 19 Linnet, 1 Marsh Harrier, 15 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pheasant, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Skylark, 19 Swallow, 9 Woodpigeon, and 2 Wren.
An interesting "off patch" record was a Kingfisher flying along the drove beside the road as I started the survey, and another sighting later in the morning by Steve Gann on the new ditch that was dug through Rymes a few years ago.
Other sightings of interest included 1 Brown Hare; 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Large Whites, 6 Red Admirals, a large number of crane flies and grasshoppers.
Kevan Wolstencroft (Great Fen Monitor)
