A Fenland Icon on a Fenland Perch – Barn Owl at Sea Level

Sometimes the best photos aren’t just about the bird—they’re about the setting too. This Barn Owl, perched perfectly on an old fenland drain measuring post, couldn’t have been more symbolic of the landscape it calls home.

Likely no more than five feet above sea level, it’s a striking reminder of just how low and open this landscape is. This scene captures everything that makes the Lincolnshire Fens so special: vast skies, subtle light, and the quiet presence of iconic wildlife going about its business.

Barn Owls are one of the true symbols of the Fens—ghosting low over the drains and dykes, quartering the rough margins for voles in the twilight. To see one so still and alert, right in the heart of its territory, is always a moment to savour.

What made this encounter all the more special was just how ‘of the place’ it felt. The owl, the post, the green backdrop—everything rooted in the fenland character. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting perch for such a classic bird of this landscape.

A Crane Encounter to Remember at Willow Tree Fen

Despite Willow Tree Fen being just down the road, it’s a place I don’t visit nearly as often as I should. That might just change after this weekend.

I headed over on a bit of a whim and was rewarded with something pretty special—brilliant views of Common Cranes. And not just distant silhouettes either—these were close-up, lingering views of these incredible birds, going about their business in the open.

Watching them was a real privilege. Their size alone is impressive, but what struck me most was their behaviour and communication. They weren’t just standing around. They were active—feeding, preening, and occasionally breaking into that iconic, echoing call. What surprised me most was how their calls changed depending on what they were doing—so expressive and layered once you’re tuned in.

It’s not every day you get such intimate views of Common Cranes in Lincolnshire, especially in such a peaceful, open landscape. The light was kind, the wind stayed down, and I ended up spending far longer there than planned. No complaints.

Safe to say, Willow Tree Fen is now firmly back on my local rotation. Cranes or not, it’s got a charm all of its own—and if the birds happen to show like this again, all the better.

Leucistic Marsh Harrier

Over the winter, an incredible and rare leucistic Marsh Harrier has been drawing attention around Willow Tree Fen in south Lincolnshire. This striking bird, with its unusually white plumage, is originally from Otmoor in Oxfordshire—while its sibling has been reported wintering in Gloucestershire.

Now looking a little worn after the colder months, it’s still an amazing sight in the skies, particularly when seen against clear blue like this. The leucism gives it a ghostly appearance in flight—more white than the typical brown tones of a Marsh Harrier, making it stand out instantly.

It’s not often you get to see such a distinctive raptor so regularly, and it’s been a real treat for local birders and photographers alike to enjoy its presence throughout the season. Willow Tree Fen has offered the perfect habitat—open reedbeds, wide skies, and plenty of space for this elegant hunter to roam.

Little Gulls visit Deeping Lakes

Little Gulls have always been one of my favourite species and it was great to find a flock of around 15 birds yesterday morning before work. They were all adults about from one 1st winter. I counted 18 in the afternoon, but they were hard to count among the masses of Black-headed Gulls. Probably my biggest flock on the patch.