Lockdown allows raptor to flourish at fenland reserve

A fall in visitors to Wicken Fen, a National Trust reserve in Cambridgeshire, has had an upside for its breeding Western Marsh Harriers, with at least 12 chicks fledging this summer.

Lockdown has meant far fewer people have visited the site, boosting the raptor and allowing it to enjoy its most successful breeding year in decades. Rangers at Wicken Fen have monitored four different harrier nests at the site, with all of them producing fully-fledged young. Two of these nests were built in Sedge Fen – an area usually busy with visitors.

A lack of visitors to Wicken Fen during lockdown has boosted breeding Western Marsh Harriers at the site (Andy Thompson).

Martin Lester, National Trust Countryside Manager, said: "We've never seen marsh harriers nest this close to visitor areas on the Sedge Fen. During the early part of lockdown we saw wildlife moving into areas of the reserve that were unusual for us. 

"We've also seen new migratory birds arrive in the wider reserve, such as Golden Oriole and Marsh Warbler. It's also been a great year for butterflies at Wicken Fen, with high numbers flying and the return of Marbled White at Oily Hall."

Other breeding successes at Wicken Fen this year include several broods of Northern Lapwing, with rangers also monitoring four broods of Little Egrets.