Good morning. Although the weather hasn’t been particularly festive recently, it is almost Christmas! I will start by posting these excellent pictures of some our wintering finches, that were taken near the visitor centre at the end of last week:
Lesser redpoll:
Siskin:
Bramblings:
Image credits: Ian Goodall
Thank you very much to Ian for sharing these great images with us.
It was a lovely day on Friday and a great tit was singing at the edge of the car park. Two kingfishers flew across the visitor centre pond and four otters were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint, two adults and two cubs.
As the day went on, at least sixteen marsh harriers were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint along with a male hen harrier, a peregrine and a male merlin. A total of five stonechats were seen along the riverbank as well as three water pipits. A barn owl was also hunting near the visitor centre at dusk.
I had to get in extra early yesterday morning to do a live radio interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. It can be found here after around one hour and eight minutes if you really want to hear it!
It was just starting to get light by the time I finished my radio interview. I went up to the Washland viewpoint and saw 21 whooper swans which had obviously roosted on the large pool. They eventually flew off towards RSPB Ouse Washes at 07.41. As I walked along the riverbank, a bittern flew out of New Fen North, the first area of reedbed towards the washland. Two barn owls were also hunting over the washland north of New Fen North, which were lovely to see.
As the day went on, two great white egrets were showing well on the washland and two stonechats were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint. A female marsh harrier was hunting nearby and a bittern flew across the visitor centre pond.
There were once again plenty of birds of prey to see from Joist Fen viewpoint during the afternoon. This included at least 25 marsh harriers, a male hen harrier and a peregrine. At least 15 little egrets also roosted north of the river.
It was a bit gloomy when I got here this morning but a great tit and a song thrush were singing near the car park which helped to brighten things up a bit.
I went for a walk around Brandon Fen and I could hear some whooper swans calling on the washland. A Cetti’s warbler was singing at the edge of the grazing marsh and a great white egret was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint. Shortly after we opened up the visitor centre, a stoat was gambolling around on the visitor centre lawn which was great to see.
If you are planning to visit this week, please read Emma’s blog post about reed cutting in New Fen North. We hope to see you soon!