Good afternoon. There has been plenty to see here recently so here are some more recent sightings:
As it was due to be very warm indeed here on Sunday, I decided to get here extra early for a walk around the reserve before it warmed up too much. I saw the glossy ibis and a great white egret from the Washland viewpoint first thing. When I got to West Wood, the furthest poplar plantation, a brambling was calling in the wood and a lesser redpoll flew over.
I was fortunate enough to see two species of deer north of the wood. A group of four roe deer were feeding on the Norfolk bank of the river Little Ouse and a Chinese water deer was also skulking in the vegetation nearby.
When I got to Joist Fen viewpoint, a single crane flew north over the bog oak and a bittern made a short flight along the channel in front of the viewpoint. I bumped into Site Manager Dave at New Fen viewpoint who spotted another bittern skulking at the edge of the pool in front of the viewpoint. At one point, it actually boomed in full view which was incredible to see.
As I walked back through the reserve, two fieldfares flew north over the viewpoint and when I got back to the visitor centre, a siskin was feeding in the alders behind the visitor centre. A kingfisher also made a brief appearance at the edge of the visitor centre pond.
As the morning went on, Dave spotted a late male hen harrier hunting in front of Joist Fen viewpoint and he took a couple of pictures of other things that he saw over the course of the day:
Bittern:
Chinese water deer:
Male marsh harrier having a scrap with a common buzzard:
Image credits: Dave Rogers
Thank you very much to Dave for sharing these images with us.
Suzanne walked right down to the far end of the reserve and she heard two different grasshopper warblers. One was singing near Joist Fen viewpoint and the other was singing further west along the riverbank. Local birder Steve also saw a very early large red damselfly down in Botany Bay, which is a great record.
As it was such a nice evening, I came back down for a walk and I saw the glossy ibis feeding in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed. Two swallows were feeding overhead and I was treated to fantastic views of two short eared owls hunting near the Washland viewpoint at around 7.30pm. At one point, one was hunting with a barn owl which was very entertaining to watch!
On Monday, the glossy ibis spent most of the morning feeding in New Fen North and a common whitethroat was seen in Brandon Fen. In the evening, at least one short eared owl was hunting over the washland and two avocets were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint.
Yesterday, two cranes flew over the visitor centre and Suzanne saw a blackcap in Brandon Fen.
Volunteers John and Nigel went up to the Washland viewpoint and saw:
Local birder Steve saw a peregrine flying along the river. He also saw three avocets, which is the highest count of this species on the reserve for a long time.
The glossy ibis was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint along with seven little egrets. A reed warbler was singing at the base of the ramp to the viewpoint and a group of 22 bramblings flew north over the viewpoint. A willow warbler was singing near the visitor centre and I took some photos of some of the plants that are in flower near the visitor centre:
Lady's smock:
Cowslips:
Image credits: David White
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!