Birds - Late Spring

Bittern Call

Deep within the reed beds close to the old sugar beet factory at Ely hides one of Britain's rarest and oldest bird species. The Bittern, part of the same family of birds as the Heron and Egret roosts here, and can be heard as dusk falls booming its way across the lower lying fen. In fact if you live on the East side of Ely you might hear it on a still dawn, or one with a slight Easterly wind. It's call is quite unmistakable. Keep an eye on the sounds page to hear both the Bittern and the sound of the late spring dawn chorus. We are hoping to record both when the April winds (in early to mid May!) start to die down. (Post script July 2009. Unfortunately by the time the winds died down at the very end of May the Bittern had stopped calling)
Top Spots
Potters Bridge, Ely (TL 563 808 or N+52 24' 12" E+0 17' 48")

Marsh Harriers

During the summer months you could bump into a Marsh Harrier gliding over the fenland fields and wetlands. They have been building in numbers over the past twenty years and the fens are a nationally important breeding area for this majestic bird of prey. Watch for them as you take a leisurely train ride from Ely to March. Just before or at dusk if you sit it out at one of the Top Spots below you are likely to see these birds come in to roost, as they fly low over the reed, or long ground cover, choose a suitable roost and then drop into it
Top Spots
Harrison's Drove at Wicken Fen (TL 556 697 or N+52 18' 14" E+0 16' 49"), Coveney (TL 508 820 or N+52 25' 2" E+0 12' 7"), reed banks on the South-East side of the larger of the pits at Roswell Pits (TL 555 807 or N+52 24' 10" E+0 17' 4") or looking across the Ouse Washes at Oxlode (TL 485 862 or N+52 27' 14" E+0 11' 3")

Blue Tits

Blue and Great Tits will have young birds out of the nest and may even be getting ready to lay a second clutch of eggs. Look in the garden and parks for worn out adult birds looking scraggy whilst feeding their young constantly. The youngsters are very yellow and make a lot of noise as the beg for food from the adults
Top Spots
Keep an eye out in your garden, rows of trees, garden walls, or house walls (perhaps near the eaves) are likely sites for a Blue Tit to nest