The late Mike Gibbons monitored the Fen over many years and in particular had an interest in the bird life.
Mike's top twelve notable birds in the Fen
The bird record is thorough and includes some notable species. Cetti's,
Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers, Water Rail and Snipe are all BAP notable
species or of conservation importance. The last has not been seen
recently. A further 21 notable species have been recorded from the 1km
square containing Clausentum Fen.
Below is a list of 12 particularly interesting species to look out for,
in addition to familar birds such as blue tits, goldfinches and robins.
If you click on the images below that will take you to the RSPB page on
that species.
Cetti's Warbler Family: Warbler
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Dense vegetation near water
Habit: Hides in dense vegation and hops about on the ground
Reed Bunting Family: Buntings
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Breeds in tall vegetation beside water
Habit: Sings from the top of reeds or shrubs
Cuckoo Family: Cuckoos
Status: Summer breeding visitor - winters in tropical Africa
Habitat: Woodland and open areas
Habit: Parasite of smaller birds in whose nests it lays its eggs.
Bullfinch Family: Finches
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Breeds in mixed woods, especially where there are conifers
Habit: Rather fat-looking with a quiet and sluggish habit.
Kingfisher Family: Kingfisher, bee eater & allies
Status: Resident - winters by the Flodstoc drain
Habitat: Beside rivers and streams with trees growing along the banks
Habit: Perches motionless on branches waiting for passing fish
Tawny Owl Family: Owls
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Breeds in holes in old deciduous trees
Habit: Nocturnal. Feeds on small mammals and large insects.
Stock Dove Family: Pigeon & Dove
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Wooded areas and parks with large deciduous trees
Habit: Rather shy. Feeds on seeds and small plants. No white flash on
neck (unlike wood pigeon).
Water rail Family: Rails
Status: Winter visitor
Habitat: Breeds in thick-reeded shallow lakes and sedge marshes
Habit: Usually hidden away amongst dense sedge or reeds
House sparrow Family: Finches
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Breeds close to man in rural and urban areas
Habit: Social - forms flocks and feeds on insects and seeds.
Song Thrush Family: Thrushes
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Woodland, parks and gardens
Habit: Feeds on insects and snails, which it often cracks open on a hard
'anvil'
Garden Warbler Family: Warbler
Status: Summer visitor to the fen, winters in tropical Africa
Habitat: Nests in woods with clearings and parks or gardens with tall
trees
Habit: Difficult to see, often low down in bushes or dense vegetation.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Family: Woodpeckers
Status: Resident breeding
Habitat: Mixed woodlands, large parks and gardens
Habit: Typical drumming sound on wood - feeds on insects and seed. Undulating flight
Recorded from the Fen in 2018:
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Mallard
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Pheasant
Water Rail
Moorhen
Lapwing
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove
Collared Dove
Tawny Owl
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Wren
Hedge Sparrow
Song Thrush
Redwing
Blackbird
Mistle Thrush
Robin
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Chiffchaff
Cettis Warbler
Willow Warbler
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Tree creeper
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Raven
Jay
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
Greenfinch
Reed Bunting
Seen overflying the Fen:
Cormorant
Red Kite
Peregrine
Hobby
Great Black-Backed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Swift
House Martin
Swallow
Sand Martin
