Woodwalton Great Fen this Saturday.

[cheersm8]

Well, looks like ( if I can beleive it ) that the Met Office predicts a clear spot in our dreadful weather for Saturday afternoon 17/07/2006, so I've planned a first time trip to The Great Fen, at Woodwalton. I've never been there but it's only a stones throw from me so would be a shame to never go there.
I'm not expecting much birdwise as July is 'hide in the hedge' time for most of our smaller species, but the habitat has got to be worth a look.
Any tips for a first time visitor or is the area just 'do the circuit' until your tired or run out of time kind of place?

ps: went to Holme Fen the other week and that was brilliant, again, birds were shy, but a fantastic assortment of dragonflies and other mini-beasts. I had never seen so many Darter Dragonflies in one place!

[Jon Turner]

Went once back in the late 60's and saw Large Copper butterfly. It was then (and still is???) the only place in the UK to see this species.

Jon

[marklhawkes]

From my limited knowledge, Large Copper is extinct in Britain (and has been for some time). There was an introduction scheme at Woodwalton Fen many years ago, but clearly they never became established. I seem to recall that the last few seen in the UK were suspected of being escapes.