We have started creating our annual artificial floods at the eastern end of the Low Wash, viewable from the South Barrier bank west of Eldernell. Good numbers of wigeon are already using them when disturbance is low and 28 whooper swans and 20 Bewicks so far.
Good numbers of stonechat are back on the Nene washes for the winter. No full co-ordinated count made yet but 20+ certainly present. What they find so attractive in the washland habitat are the numerous ditches that are edged with rank vegetation at the interface with short grazed pastures. Most birds are paired up, an essential part of their winter survival, in my opinion, as one bird is always on the look out (a sentinel) whilst its partner seeks out insects and larvae from the decaying ditch-side plants. Their main predators out here are Merlin and Sparrowhawk.
A brief walk into the wood at lunch time to escape the biting wind and out popped this Roe deer. With the sun directly behind me I was able to digiscope it before it finally realised I was there, 30 mtrs away. Not a standard wash-land mammal, though it's over 3 years since we flooded and they seem quite at home.
