Good morning. The reserve has really come to life recently so it’s time for some recent sightings. I will start where I left off on Wednesday with a few images that were taken by Ian Goodall on that day:
Our first cuckoo of the year:
A skulking Cetti’s warbler:
A juvenile peregrine in full flow:
Image credits: Ian Goodall
As the day went on, our first hobby of the year was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and a Daubenton’s bat was flying around in front of New Fen viewpoint in broad daylight.
Suzanne and I did our first Common Bird Census (CBC) in Brandon Fen on Thursday. Before we set out, I popped up to the Washland viewpoint and 32 bramblings flew west over the visitor centre just after first light. A male barn owl was hunting near the visitor centre and photographer David Gowing took this photo of it:
Image credit: David Gowing
Thank you very much to Ian and David for sharing their images with us.
As the day went on, there were four garganeys in front of the Washland viewpoint and a reed warbler was singing near the visitor centre. The marsh marigold was also showing well in the pond bed in front of the visitor centre:
Image credit: David White
It was really rather chilly up at the Washland viewpoint first thing on Saturday morning when father and I got up there. We saw three common terns and a smart drake garganey so it was worth getting cold for!
There were some interesting waders around early yesterday morning. A spotted redshank flew into New Fen North and a little ringed plover flew over the Washland viewpoint. A common sandpiper was also showing well in front of the viewpoint.
I came down for a walk with my parents and as we drove in, there were seven roe deer grazing alongside the entrance track. Just before we arrived, five cranes flew over the visitor centre and as we walked down the hard track, we heard a grasshopper warbler singing at the western edge of Trial Wood.
There was plenty going on at Joist Fen viewpoint. There were two bitterns booming near the viewpoint and a small flock of bearded tits were showing well in front of the viewpoint. I saw a distant hobby over the far end of the reserve and at least three cranes flew over. Emma also saw a cuckoo over the far end of the reserve.
I went for a walk around the reserve this morning and although there were no unusual waders around, I did see a pair of oystercatchers and a pair of redshanks. There were two grasshopper warblers reeling between Mere Hide and the Trial Wood viewpoint. A third grasshopper warbler was singing behind the visitor centre as I was opening up the visitor centre.
Just before I go, I will let you know that we now have out visitor centre nestbox camera up and running. There are currently a pair of great tits occupying it and their comings and goings can now be watched from the comfort of the visitor centre.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!