Good morning. Well, February went by like a flash and we are now into March so here are some more recent sightings for you:
I will start off by sharing some images that photographer Mark Lynham has shared with us that were taken on the reserve on Sunday:
Canada geese:
Female marsh harrier:
Image credits: Mark Lynham
Thank you very much to Mark for sharing these lovely images with us.
On Wednesday, a marsh tit was singing in front of the visitor centre and a common snipe was skulking at the edge of the visitor centre pond. We were also treated to great views of a red kite hunting over East Wood at lunchtime which was nice to see.
I popped up to the Washland viewpoint just after lunch and on the way up there, I took a photograph of “Frederick”, our willow dragon. He is now sporting a new tail and here he is showing it off in the sunshine:
Although the large pool in front of the viewpoint is currently very dry, two oystercatchers and two teals were present. Hopefully, we will get some rain soon in order to wet it up a bit.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, five cranes were seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint. It is encouraging to hear that they are still being seen!
I walked around Brandon before work yesterday morning and a couple of mammal sightings were the highlights. A muntjac deer was skulking at the edge of the car park and three roe deer were feeding in the grazing marsh.
A pair of mistle thrushes were perched up in the poplars and two green woodpeckers were calling. A male great spotted woodpecker was also drumming along the entrance track.
As the day went on, a common snipe was showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond and a bittern was seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint. I walked down to New Fen viewpoint after lunch and when I got there, I heard a little grebe calling which was nice. At least five tufted ducks were also feeding in front of the viewpoint.
This morning, three very well camouflaged roe deer were feeding in front of the viewpoint. Here is a photograph of them that I took on my phone (I have circled them to make them easier to spot!):
Image credits: David White
Two redshanks were feeding in front of the viewpoint and a song thrush was singing at the edge of the car park. A male blackbird was also singing its fluty song nearby.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that the riverbank Public Footpath is currently muddy in places. The grassy path that runs alongside West Wood (the furthest poplar wood) is also very wet in places. Wellies are therefore recommended to negotiate these paths at present. All of the other reserve paths are fine.
We hope to see you on the reserve soon!