One wintry weekend we decided to visit the Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in East Anglia. It’s one of Britain’s oldest nature reserves and it has been owned by the National Trust since 1899. My husband is a keen ornithologist, so equipped with binoculars and hiking boots we drove to the Cambridgeshire Fens.
As we approached the Nature Reserve storm clouds threatened and it began to rain heavily. We waited in the car awhile hoping that the weather would clear but there was no respite so we braved the elements as we had travelled so far. Entrance is through the visitor centre where we found a blackboard listing recent wildlife sightings providing us with encouragement to continue.
After spending a few minutes chatting to the Park Ranger and browsing some of the books for sale in the shop, we put our hoods up and ventured out onto the reserve. The Fens are low lying and can be very boggy so we were pleased to find a recently constructed boardwalk to the bird hide. Already inside were a couple of people who were equipped with spotting scopes, who informed us that they hadn’t seen any action in the previous hour and sadly we didn’t spot any wildlife either. I think all the birds were sheltering in the reed beds trying to keep their feathers dry!
Not to be deterred, we then followed the nature trail, taking us through two miles of the reserve along a very muddy track. On our way, we only spotted a few ducks and one solitary robin so it wasn’t a very successful trek. However, we did see a couple of windmills, one of which is still in use on the reserve to pump in water when the land becomes too dry – clearly not required at present!
It was disappointing not being able to see any birds but we did get some exercise during our visit and afterwards we warmed up with mugs of tea in the small cafe next to the visitor centre. If you might like to explore Wicken Fen it is located six miles from Ely in Cambridgeshire. It’s home to 9,000 species so hopefully you will spot more than a duck and a robin if you decide to visit.
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You’ve been busy and I’m well behind- looks like a lovely place no matter the weather!
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Wicked Fen is a lovely little place – hopefully it will be nicer when we manage to return there. Thank you for your comments.
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Ah shame it was a wet quiet day, however that gives you an easy excuse ti visit again. Its lovely. Have you been to Titchwell marsh?
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No we haven’t been there yet but hopefully we will before too long. Thanks for your welcome thoughts.
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Its lovely. Lots of birds and a lovely beach
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Nice
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Thank you, it was just a pity it was raining.
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Shame you made it all the way down here and didn’t really get to see much, a little closer for me and I’d never heard of this so might put it on my list to visit!
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It was a bit of a nuisance that it rained. We looked around Ely as well but it was pouring down then. Hope you enjoyed your weekend in Manchester!
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Yeah Ely and its cathedral is definitely on my list too. Manchester was great thanks 🙂
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Too bad you were not treated to wildlife after making that trip.
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It wasn’t fair, was it – but at least they had the sense to take shelter Ian.
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Nice day out anyway as you say M…your first photo definitely looks like the day is cold.
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It was very cold and wet Sue. I don’t mind walking on a cold, crisp day but it’s not very inviting like that! At least Spring is around the corner for us up north!
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That looks like a lovely place to visit! Love the fog in the photos. Great post!
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Thank you, it was quite atmospheric in the misty conditions!
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It’s 9:45 PM on a Tuesday and I now have an urge to go and walk through a rainy nature reserve!! I think for now I shall wait for brighter days, but I for sure would love to take my younger sister bird spotting (she has a book she loves reading already!) X
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I hope you get a chance to take your sister bird spotting sometime Anya.
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Thank you sharing such a beautiful place. You will need to do a return visit…
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Thank you for your kind words, hopefully we’ll return on a sunnier day!
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I guess you really were unlucky. Better luck another time.
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We were a little unfortunate but we still managed a bit of a walk and a pot of tea!
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And sometimes a pot of tea after a walk in the rain tastes so good.
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Definitely!
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Not far from DonQui’s home paddock. He will try to visit soon. Thanks for the tip
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Thank you for your much appreciated thoughts. A visit to Wicken Fen on a sunny day would be lovely!
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Nice information about Your country. My favorite photos windmill. I shoot photo from them every time when I see one.
Have a good day!
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Thanks Matti, I like windmills too!
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It’s unfortunate that it rained and you didn’t get to see much. Will you return?
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Hopefully sometime, but we don’t live nearby. Thanks for your welcome thoughts.
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What a shame! I remember seeing signs for this place a few years back when I was at Ely. Good that they have the boardwalk and visitor centre. It might be crowded in warmer weather. 🙂 🙂
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It was a shame that it rained but that’s out of our control. We still enjoyed a walk albeit cold, wet and muddy!
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Reblogged this on Travel Food Style.
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Beautiful landscape, and at least it was a nice walks, even without the birds 😉 ! Great photos! Thanks for sharing, and have a great week! Marcus
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Thanks Marcus, Hope your week is going well, too!
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Indeed it is 🙂
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Pingback: In search of wildlife at Wicken Fen – Life On The Lake
Reblogged this on Life On The Lake and commented:
I would go there if I lived in the UK near Cambridge. I reblogged this via:
https://lovetravellingallaroundtheworld.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/in-search-of-wildlife-at-wicken-fen/
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Wicked Fen is an interesting place to visit, especially in warmer weather.
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Thanks for the visit. I’m in Texas, and I don’t think I’m ever going to make it to the UK.
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