Good morning. There has been plenty to see over the last couple of days so here are some more recent sightings:
On Sunday morning, four cranes flew over the Washland viewpoint. A peregrine flew over New Fen viewpoint and a curlew was showing well from the Washland viewpoint in the afternoon.
Fast forward to yesterday, there were four male tufted ducks on the washland along with three shelducks. I walked around Brandon Fen and spotted a mistle thrush that was singing from the top of a tree near the car park. When I got back to the visitor centre, a curlew flew over, calling as it went.
I led a guided walk for a couple of families during the morning and we saw two water pipits from the Washland viewpoint. As the day went on, four cranes were seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint and Warden Katherine saw a bittern from New Fen viewpoint.
I had a pleasant surprise as I was unlocking our staff gate when I arrived this morning when nine Bewick's swans flew south over my head, calling as they went. As I walked up to the Washland viewpoint, a barn owl was hunting over Brandon Fen which was really nice to see.
A whooper swan and two shelducks were showing well from the Washland viewpoint. A skylark was also singing overhead which was nice to hear. When i got back to the visitor centre, I took this photograph of the visitor centre pond in the morning sunshine:
Image credit: David White
The reserve team have been working down the far end of the reserve this morning and Site Manager Dave has seen a single crane in flight from the far end of the reserve.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that the riverbank Public Footpath is still extremely muddy. You will need wellies to negotiate it at present. The path along the southern edge of West Wood is also slightly flooded. The rest of the paths are currently fine.
We hope to see you soon!