During the summer months Lackford Lakes boasts stunning insect life. The dragonflies and damselflies are looking amazing at the pond near the centre, and also a beewolf has been spotted on the dry ground.

Lound Lakes boasts an array of wonderful habitats, and at this time of year there are wildflowers galore, including masses of heath spotted orchids. Warden Andy Hickinbotham and his amazing volunteers have been busy on the reserve clearing the gates and trails to ease access. Lound Lake’s extended 'No Mow May' finally came to an end on the 1st July at Fen Barn – the front garden was cut, shaken by forks to disperse the seed, then raked, collected and heaped for reptile habitat. 

Warden Joe Underwood spotted this gravid common lizard at Trimley Marshes recently. This female will have mated in April/May and will give birth to up to seven live young in August. Both slow worms and common lizards give birth to live young and this is known as viviparity. 

Martins’ Meadows are looking resplendent with lots of pyramidal orchids amongst the masses of other wildflowers. 

Two young marsh harriers have successfully fledged at Lackford Lakes this year. Both are now flying well but still waiting to get fed by their parents.  Marsh Harriers have now bred at Lackford lakes since 2020. 

Warden David Stansfeld snapped some wonderful insects at Knettishall Heath recently, including a thick legged flower beetle, small copper, small tortoiseshell, meadow brown, comma, small heath and pale tussock moth.  

Warden Dan Doughty shared these clips of the cows taking a very keen interest in the trail camera at Dingle Marshes!  

Fen raft spider surveys at Carlton have started again, with Warden Frances Lear recording the nursery webs that the females have constructed. Only one web was found this week, however several females were spotted carrying egg sacs, so numbers are expected to increase in the coming weeks. 

Some of the Carlton warden team took the cafe team and centre volunteers out on the reserve to ensure they are well connected with the species and habitats which are so important on the reserve. This will help all staff to enable visitors to discover and explore the wildlife on the doorstep of Lowestoft. 

Hen Reedbeds has Bladderwort and purple loosestrife flowering in the dykes. Bladderwort is a carnivorous plant with tiny bladders under water to catch passing aquatic inverts. 

Wardens Dan Doughty and Jamie Smith found waders were not enough to contend with the mud at Hill Farm Marshes, where they had the messy task unblocking pipe sluices - thankfully, no wardens were lost in the mud! 

These dramatic skies were seen over Dingle Marshes this week!