Good morning. The weather has been not too bad this week so here are some more recent sightings:
Suzanne and I did our latest Common Bird Census (CBC) around Brandon Fen first thing on Thursday morning and despite the fact that it was rather chilly, there was plenty singing. The highlight was hearing our first garden warbler of the year near the photography station.
Warden Emma also did her latest survey between Mere Hide and Joist Fen viewpoint. She saw a common whitethroat and a wheatear near Mere Hide and two cuckoos near Joist Fen viewpoint. She stopped over on the way back and saw a single black tailed godwit in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
I came back down for a walk in the evening and saw a pair of garganeys on the river near the Washland viewpoint. There were nine black tailed godwits on the washland north of New Fen North and two drake pochards were feeding in New Fen North itself.
Yesterday, a kingfisher was fishing at the edge of the visitor centre pond and a marsh harrier was seen over the pond and a sparrowhawk was seen over the staff car park.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, two bitterns were seen from Mere Hide and a red kite flew over Trial Wood. At least 50 hobbys were also reported feeding over Joist Fen viewpoint which is a good count for here.
I went for a walk before work this morning and had good views of an Arctic tern flying west along the river shortly after 7am. I went and had a look in New Fen North this morning and saw the following:
I also took a couple pf photographs while I was out and about which I hope you like:
Neew Fen North:
The photography station (which is now moreorless finished!)
As I walked back through the reserve, presumably the same garden warbler from Tuesday was singing near the photography station. There were also a couple of invertebrates on the wing in the morning sunshine. This included a green veined white, a male orange tip and a hairy dragonfly.
As the morning has gone on, a pair of garganeys have been seen along the river and two cranes flew over the visitor centre. At least 20 hobbys have been seen from Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!