What has been nice this week is that we have actually had a few (at least half) days this week! On Monday, regular visitor centre volunteer John Wightman kept making quick dashes up to the Washland viewpoint to try and boost his reserve year list. He came back saying there was a probable adult yellow legged gull on the washland. Ali and I went up there and eventually spotted it with it's bright, white head shining out like a beacon. Fortunately, everyone got to see it before it started pouring with rain. Later on in the day, Suzanne and John returned to the viewpoint and saw two barn owls hunting which was a great end to the day.
I had a walk around Brandon Fen on Tuesday morning and found a mixed flock of redpolls. This included at least seven "mealys" and at least four "lessers." Several of us went up to the washland viewpoint at lunchtime and although the yellow legged gull wasn't present, there were 106 black headed gulls, 31 lesser black backed gulls and 15 common gulls.
One of our regulars headed down to Joist Fen viewpoint in the afternoon and on his way down, he saw the juvenile peregrine flying in front of West Wood. When he got to the viewpoint, he saw two cranes in flight and there were plenty of harriers out hunting. This included at least 13 marsh harriers and two hen harriers (one male and one "ringtail".) A kingfisher was also fishing in the pool in front of the viewpoint.
On Wednesday, the two cranes were again seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and a water rail was skulking about behind the visitor centre. There were plenty of harriers around once again. This included at least 20 marsh harriers and four hen harriers (two males and two "ringtails".)
When Katherine and I got here this morning, we spotted a barn owl perched on a sign in the car park. Although it looked a lot like this bird, it was slightly darker:
Image credit: Les Bunyan.
When we opened up the visitor centre, the light was fantastic so I took a photo of the visitor centre pond:
Image credit: David White
It was the first lovely morning that I have seen here in 2014 so I just had to document it! Dave popped down the reserve to check the water levels and saw two cranes feeding in Humphrey's Paddock, the area of grazing marsh near Joist Fen viewpoint. There were also seven greenfinches on the feeders behind the visitor centre. This is a great count, especially considering that the Big Garden Birdwatch on the horizon!
The weather is looking good this weekend so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!