Summertime at Wicken Fen

Over the summer, we returned to Wicken Fen nature reserve.  Blake was writing a physical geography report on the location, I wanted to take some photos, and Cooper was itching for an adventure.  The weather was perfect, and everyone was out enjoying the weather.  Some people had even parked their houseboats and were enjoying a picnic. How quaint!

We paid more attention to the landscape this time since Blake was doing field research. The fens are very soggy; a type of wetland unique to this area of England.  You can easily see the standing water, and the windpump is designed to drain some of that water for agricultural purposes.  Needless to say, we wore our tall hiking boots and Cooper spent the day with a soaked underbelly.

My camera found a lot more wildlife this time than it did when we visited in the winter.  The highland cattle and konik ponies let me get some close-ups, as well as some ducks and insects.

Cooper found some wildlife too.  He caught the scent of something near the river, but the reeds were so thick that none of us could see what it was.  Being a hound, he followed the scent through the reeds until he literally ran headfirst into a roosting pheasant!  The huge bird immediately made a loud whooshing noise and took flight.  All of us were startled, but none more than Cooper, who jumped about a foot in the air at his discovery!  What a fun day.

~Lindsay