10th Ely Bird Race 

6th December saw a number of keen birdwatcher out on the biannual Ely Bird Race

Small teams led by expert birders walk around Ely Wildspace - Roswell Pits and Meadows looking for as many bird species as possible. 

This year we saw 60 species of bird.

Bat Boxes up at Ely Wildspace

Batman was hard at work during the autumn in anticipation of a cold winter. He made several botboxes. Then he and his side kick Robin were went down to the Wildspace to hang them on the trees.

Rare hoverfly recorded in the Wildspace

 The rare hoverfly Anasimyia interpuncta was caught in the wildspace by budding amateur entomologist Mark Welch. These beautiful flies have been been recorded at only at Wicken Fen and Woodwalton Fen, in Cambridgeshire. Now we have added a third site in our very own "back yard".

Bitterns are recovering, and Ely & district has played its part

Leading UK conservation organisations have recently updated their assessment of the status of British birds (Birds of Conservation Concern 4) and it makes desperately sad reading, with more species than ever placed on the Red List. However, within the report there is a glimmer of hope, and it is one to which the people of Ely and district have contributed. The bittern is one of only three bird species that have improved in status and left the Red List (moved to the Amber List) - and this is down to the successful creation of new reed beds, but also maintenance and improvement of existing habitats like Roswell Pits which provide a critical winter feeding site for the bitterns living in the Beet Pits. Without the action taken and supported by many Ely residents our bitterns would be in a much worse situation and possibly no longer with us. I think that the people of Ely and the Potters Group who manage the Beet Pits should be proud of their contribution to this conservation success.

by Mark Welch and Kev Smith