Good morning. It has finally warmed up. Thank goodness for that! Here are some recent sightings from Sunday morning onwards. It was a good morning for finches with a flock of 14 siskins in the visitor centre alders and a female brambling on the visitor centre feeders.
On Tuesday, Suzanne saw two common buzzards over Brandon Fen. Site Manager Dave and Warden Alan saw a good selection of birds out on the reserve. They saw seven cranes and a bittern from Joist Fen viewpoint. They also saw a red kite over East Wood which is a good record for here.
In the afternoon, regular visitor Ian and Kath saw 11 white fronted geese feeding alongside the railway line from Joist Fen viewpoint. Given that this species was only recorded on the reserve for the first time on 14 January this year, this is actually a record reserve count for this species (the previous record was five, just in case you are interested!)
I saw at least six roe deer grazing alongside the entrance track as I drove in on Wednesday. I went up to the Washland viewpoint and saw the following:
In the afternoon, bearded tits were showing very well near Mere Hide. Volunteer Julia also saw two cranes from Joist Fen viewpoint and a stoat near New Fen viewpoint.
Yesterday afternoon, a little egret was showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond along with a water rail. The reserve team were doing a work party beyond Joist Fen viewpoint. They saw at least four cranes in flight along with a great white egret.
I spent 45 minutes up at the Washland viewpoint towards dusk and saw:
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, a merlin was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and volunteer Roger was lucky enough to see an otter from New Fen viewpoint, just as darkness fell.
I had a very productive walk around the reserve before work this morning. Literally just as I headed out for my morning walk, nine Bewick's swans flew east over the visitor centre, calling as they went. Shortly after I got up to the riverbank, another seven Bewick's swans flew east along the river. A drake pintail was showing well on the washland along with a curlew.
As I walked along the riverbank towards East Wood, a green woodpecker flew along the riverbank in front of me. This was my ninetieth species of bird on the reserve this year, so I was very pleased to see it!
I took this photo of the washland pool north of East Wood, just before I went through the cattle corral:
I took a walk around New Fen North, the first area of reedbed and saw a female stonechat. A great spotted woodpecker was drumming in West Wood and I also took these photos which show some of the recent work that has been done in the reedbed:
Image credits: David White (Apologies for the poor light conditions by the way!)
I had a pleasant surprise as I walked back through the reserve: I heard cranes bugling behind me and three dropped in south of the railway line, alongside East Wood. It was great to see them so close to the visitor centre as they tend to be down the far end of the reserve.
Shortly after we opened the visitor centre, a water rail was skulking at the edge of the visitor centre pond and a kingfisher was fishing in the pond.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!