Good morning! I will begin this morning with an unusual view of secretive bird:
Image credit: Lee Gregory
Its a woodcock and it flew into the bird ringers mist net in Brandon Fen last week. Its fantastic to get such a close up view of a bird that we rarely see.
Its been a good week here and there were plenty of signs of spring on Sunday afternoon, our first common lizard of the year was seen near the visitor centre and a common toad was swimming around in the visitor centre pond (although try as I might, I couldn't spot it!) A coal tit and a goldcrest were also singing between the visitor centre and the car park which was lovely to hear.
I walked down to Botany Bay at the far end of the reserve on Monday morning. There were two chiffchaffs singing and there were lots of common toads croaking in one of the reserve pools. There were several small tortoiseshell butterflies on the wing and there was lots of coltsfoot in flower on the riverbank:
Image credit: David White
On Tuesday, an oystercatcher flew over Brandon Fen and there were at least seven marsh harriers hunting over the far end of the reserve.
On Wednesday, both pairs of cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and I FINALLY saw my first bearded tit of the year near the pond dipping platform. There was a bit of excitement at lunchtime when four shelducks appeared on the washland (they are not seen here very often!).On the way up to the Washland viewpoint to see them, Ali and I spotted a peacock butterfly that fluttered past us.
It was a lovely afternoon yesterday once the fog had lifted. There were two bitterns skulking around in front of Mere Hide and there were also six bearded tits showing themselves from time to time in front of the hide. Two cranes were seen in "Humphrey's Paddock" near Joist Fen viewpoint and a barn owl was hunting nearby.
Unfortunately for me, I was in the office all day but I was allowed to have the window open! I heard a common curlew calling south of the railway line and a redwing was singing its strange song in the staff car park. Perhaps the same oystercatcher from Tuesday was flying around over Brandon Fen but I could only hear it. I will make sure that I get out and see it soon though!
We hope to see you soon!