This carrion burying beetle, also known as a common sexton beetle, was seen at Lound Lakes recently. The common sexton beetle is the commonest of several orange and black burying beetle species in the UK. An undertaker of the animal world, it buries dead animals like mice and birds, and feeds and breeds on the corpses and does a great job of naturally recycling nutrients back to the soil. 

Cormorant Island (named because cormorants like to rest here) on Peto's Marsh was one of three overgrown areas cut this week by Warden Andy Hickinbotham. Cutting the foliage at this time of year will enable wildfowl to graze through the winter. 

Lound Lakes has turned very autumnal, with the first frost and flurries of parasol fungi appearing this week. Parasol fungi are one of the UK’s largest mushrooms and can grow 25cm in diameter and 30cm in height. 

Our brilliant team of volunteers at Hen Reedbeds helped Assistant Warden Frances Lear litter pick the track and clear an area of cut reed in front of one of the viewpoints. 

This lovely robin's pincushion, also known as a bedeguar gall, was spotted growing on dog rose at Lound Lakes. These growths are caused by Diplolepis rosae, a gall wasp. Each gall hosts many grubs, that feed on the abnormal growth. Many of us see the galls, but few see the adult wasps or grubs. 

Warden Andy Hickinbotham and his wonderful team of volunteers have been hard at work clearing an old entrance route at Lound Lakes. This will enable tractor access in the spring without risking any damage to the orchids on Fen Meadow. 

After nearly seven weeks of hard work, the last of the tractor topping was completed at Carlton Marshes this week. Topping is essential to prepare the wet grassland for the winter bird visitors and most importantly prepping it for spring and the breeding waders that will nest in this habitat. 

The life of a warden is not all tractors and chainsaws. This week a day was spent in the office training on QGIS to learn its mapping and surveying potential. 

Many thanks to the North East reserve teams for turning out in full to assist with our annual Conservation Day and AGM at Carlton Marshes - a great day was had by all! 

Some of our amazing Gunton Warren volunteers have been busy cutting back encroaching gorse from the main track along the cliff top, allowing easier and less prickly access! 

The Softrak was delivered to the North East reserve teams to cut reedbeds at Carlton Marshes, Hen Reedbeds and Dingle Marshes in coming weeks. Warden Andy Hickinbotham had the challenging task of driving it down the trailer ramp. Andy observed ‘getting it off the trailer is like driving a see-saw’ - hence the very serious face! 

The moth traps at Church Farm revealed some wonderful nighttime visitors. 

Our reserves interns get extensive training as part of their year long placements, leaving them with the skills and experience to pursue a career in conservation. A rewarding day was had by all learning safe handling and use of chainsaws.