Warden Jamie Smith captured this bittern picking its way through Hen Reedbeds. Jamie’s work to create areas in the reedbeds with structural diversity for wildlife to exploit has paid dividends.  

Also at Peto’s Marsh, the team captured a beautiful male bittern on camera with a bright blue cheek patch. 

We saw the last flick of winter’s tail across the county on the last day of March. However, on the same day, Mike Andrews at Lackford Lakes nature reserve spotted the reserve's first sighting of a swallow, a sand martin and a little ringed plover fresh from their migration from Africa! The birds may head further south if they are met with inclement weather. 

Some snowy scenes from Alex at Bradfield Woods, Sam at Knettishall Heath and Dan at Church Farm... 

Our wardens and volunteers gain a lot of information about species using our reserves and also observe some fascinating behaviour via our network of trail cameras. The cameras can often give some amusing and tantalising glimpses as well. These fine pair of trousers belong to a marsh harrier at Hen Reedbeds – what do you think it has in its talons? Warden Dan thinks it might be a frog? 

Lound Lakes Warden Andy and Russ from Essex and Suffolk Water retrieved a pair of lost visitors to the reserve who’d wandered into the Lord Somerleyton Plantation overnight. They safely caught the birds and returned them to the water where they could resume feeding.