OUSE FEN RSPB RESERVE-BLACK WINGED STILT

An afternoon visit to Ouse Fen RSPB in Cambridgeshire offered the promise of something special. With reports circulating of a Black-winged Stilt on site, Owen and I decided to call in and try our luck.

The reserve itself was familiar territory. We had visited back in May to connect with a Great Reed Warbler, so we already had a good sense of the layout — and more importantly, where to focus our attention. Cell 10 was the obvious starting point.

It didn’t take long. There, feeding at the back of the cell, was the Black-winged Stilt. Elegant and unmistakable, it immediately drew the eye — impossibly long pink legs, crisp black-and-white plumage, and a buoyant feeding action that gave it an almost weightless quality.

The bird showed well throughout our watch, though it was rarely still, constantly moving across the shallow water. The drama peaked when a Marsh Harrier swept low over the marsh. Instantly alert, the stilt took flight, circling briefly before disappearing to the far side of the marsh, leaving us with a final impression of long legs trailing behind graceful wings.

Cell 10 was lively beyond the stilt alone. A supporting cast of quality waders and wetland birds added depth to the afternoon: Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, and Ringed Plover fed along the margins, while a stately Great White Egret and an equally impressive Eurasian Spoonbill moved through the shallows.

Greenshank

Great White Egret

As the light softened and activity ebbed and flowed, it was hard not to reflect on just how valuable sites like Ouse Fen are becoming. The reserve already feels rich with potential, and it’s exciting to think what the future may hold as the RSPB continues to shape and protect this landscape.

A great afternoon’s birding — and a reminder that even a short visit can deliver moments of real quality.