Good morning. Before I launch into some sightings from Sunday onwards, I thought I would share some late news from Friday. Chris, our Area Manager walked down to the far end of the reserve after work and he saw an otter on the riverbank. This is the first sighting of this species on the reserve for quite some time.
I will now start off where I left off with some sightings from Sunday afternoon onwards. Two cranes were seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint and a group of 20 black tailed godwits were present in front of the Washland viewpoint for a couple of hours. A lesser whitethroat was also reported behind the visitor centre.
On Tuesday, an oystercatcher flew over the visitor centre and a kingfisher was fishing at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A red kite was also seen several times over Brandon Fen over the course of the day.
We had a school visit on Wednesday so we were all pretty busy with that for most of the day. However, two oystercatchers flew over the visitor centre and our first small skipper of the year was seen near the pond raised bed. Meanwhile, in the raised bed itself, a common newt was showing well which was very nice to see.
I had a walk around Brandon Fen before work yesterday morning and saw a juvenile green woodpecker. Several common darters were on the wing and a stoat was playing hide and seek with me on the riverbank Public Footpath. When I walked past the Washland viewpoint, a whimbrel was calling overhead which is a good record for here.
As the day went on, two red kites were seen over the Washland viewpoint. A group of three curlews also flew over, calling as they went.
It was a lovely morning this morning so I got here nice and early. An oystercatcher flew over the Washland viewpoint and a barn owl was hunting just east of the viewpoint. A marsh harrier was hunting over New Fen North, the first area of reedbed and kingfisher also whizzed low over the water.
Two cuckoos flew from East Wood to West Wood and a mistle thrush was singing in Trial Wood. I also took these pictures which I hope you like:
Azure damselfly:
Common darter:
New Fen North:
Blue tailed damselfly:
Meadow brown butterfly:
Image credits: David White
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are now cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!