Good morning, you can definitely tell that the breeding season is now well underway. There seem to be bitterns booming all over the place and the volume of birdsong from the reedbeds seems to increase every day!
The weather was a bit patchy on Sunday but it was mostly dry. An osprey was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and there were at least two green veined white butterflies on the wing along the riverbank.
A swallow was whizzing around over Brandon Fen on Monday and a pair of stonechats were seen near Joist Fen viewpoint on Tuesday.
It was a lovely day on Wednesday and there seemed to be an arrival of more sedge warblers overnight. They were popping up all over the place and one was singing its frantic song in front of Joist Fen viewpoint. Some visitors also discovered some cowslips in flower on the riverbank which were lovely to see.
It was all go yesterday morning with a large team of staff and volunteers doing an early morning "bittern listen" out on the reserve. I made myself useful and disappeared out of sight for a walk! I heard a willow warbler singing at the edge of East Wood and a single shelduck was feeding in the second washland pool. Lots of bearded tits were pinging near New Fen viewpoint and two green woodpeckers flew into Trial Wood.
As well as hearing lots of booming bitterns, the "bittern gang" returned with plenty of sightings: A single crane was seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint and two sand martins flew over. There were also at least six marsh harriers hunting in front of the viewpoint.
I was lucky enough to watch an indignant moorhen pursuing a grass snake across the visitor centre pond which was very entertaining indeed! The moorhen won and the grass snake was not seen again for some time!
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, a red kite was over Joist Fen viewpoint and two swallows were feeding over the washland.
Before I got into the office this morning, I photographed the lovely marsh marigold that is now coming into flower in the fenland plant bed outside the visitor centre:
Image credit: David White
While I was out doing that, I could hear a song thrush blasting its loud song from Brandon Fen and an equally loud Cetti's warbler "shouting" from the edge of the visitor centre pond.
The weather forecast is pretty good for this weekend so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!