Dear All,
On Friday evening I arranged a tour of the RSPB Ouse Fen project in
Over where Hansons have been extracting gravel for a number of years. As they
finish an area it is taken over by RSPB as a wetland project mainly planting
reeds to encourage bitterns. This year they have counted 10 male booming
bitterns so it appears to be working. The highlight of our visit was seeing one
but their camouflage is incredible and it took several minutes to pick it out
even after it was pointed out. We also saw a barn owl, marsh harriers, egrets,
grebes and several small brown birds! The site is planned to grow to 700 ha
after 30 years extraction.
Ouse Fen
Spot the Bittern Contest (not my photo)
We have removed all the pews that we are allowed to this week and
electrics and radiators have been rearranged and walls varnished. The carpet
tiles need to be sorted then things should look much better and more flexible.
Our Thursday walk this week started at Shepreth and took in
Fowlmere, Foxton and Barrington. It was surprisingly rural for a route so close
to Cambridge.
Barrington
Foxton
The Chapel cricket team trashed Huntingdon District Council on
Wednesday and Over IIs trashed Sutton II yesterday but already some players are
choosing to play pre season football friendlies.
Our juvenile muntjac has been around every day this week sampling
here and there with fairly exotic tastes such as sweet potatoes, aubergines,
gooseberries and apricots.
Plenty of gardening again this week: preparing a new strawberry bed,
covering against leek moth and pigeons, digging spuds and picking beans.
Ben is safely back from China and seems to have had a good time.
Esther is entertaining Mandy and Natasha and we are joining them in London
tomorrow to climb over the O2.
Love
Mike & Kate
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