Good morning. Yesterday was a busy day so I have a bit more time for posting recent sightings today!
I will begin where I left off on Friday. As I hadn’t had a chance to get out on the reserve since last Sunday, I escaped the office for a walk down to New Fen viewpoint at lunchtime. I saw 17 little egrets from the Washland viewpoint and I was very pleased to see a turtle dove in flight from the edge of New Fen North into East Wood.
As I walked back along the hard track, there were plenty of insects on the wing. This included several smart brimstones and painted ladys. There were also plenty of ruddy darters on the wing. Reserve visitor Jeremy Buchan managed to photograph this smart individual:
Image credits: Jeremy Buchan
Thank you very much to Jeremy for sharing these great images with us.
I went for a walk before work yesterday morning and saw a muntjac deer in Brandon Fen. There were 33 little egrets in front of the Washland viewpoint which is a new reserve record count. There were also 14 grey herons and two common terns present.
Site Manager Dave heard some bearded tits calling near New Fen viewpoint and three cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint. A stoat was seen along the track west of Joist Fen viewpoint and a weasel was seen near the visitor centre.
We had an event yesterday to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the first reeds being planted at the reserve. Here is Site Manager Dave Rogers delivering his speech to the attendees:
Typically, while he was speaking, a bittern flew over the visitor centre mound closely followed by a green woodpecker!
We all went down to New Fen viewpoint and my group took a quick detour to the Washland viewpoint. Here, we counted over 40 little egrets, thus breaking the reserve record that was only set that morning.
When my group eventually got to the viewpoint, I took this photo of the view:
As we walked back through the reserve, this rather tatty red admiral was showing well near the visitor centre:
Image credits: David White
This morning, a dunlin flew east over the Washland viewpoint, calling as it went. Two green sandpipers also flew over. A flock of at least 35 lapwings were wheeling overhead and a Cetti’s warbler was singing near the viewpoint.
There was also some excitement shortly after we opened when several visitors came in reporting a possible wood warbler in the car park. Although by the time I got down there it had toddled off, it will be interesting to see whether it appears again. If it is confirmed, this would be a very welcome first record for the reserve. Fingers crossed!
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!