Good morning. There has been plenty of crane activity this week so here are some photos of them:
Monday:
Image credits: David Gowing
Thursday:
Image credit: Dave Capps
Thank you very much to David and Dave for sharing these great pictures with us.
It was a nice day on Thursday and nine roe deer were grazing alongside the entrance track. A marsh tit was using the visitor centre feeders and Suzanne saw a kingfisher from the Washland viewpoint.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, four cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint. A bittern was also seen in the same area.
Yesterday morning, a great white egret was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint along with two shelducks. Two oystercatchers were also feeding on the washland north of East Wood.
I spent some time at New Fen viewpoint and was very lucky to see three cranes flying into the reedbed. Although one bird eventually exited stage left, the remaining two bugled and displayed briefly before disappearing into the reedbed.
On the way back through the reserve, a great spotted woodpecker was drumming in East Wood and a fieldfare was singing in the same area. A skylark was also singing over the visitor centre, which was lovely to hear.
As the day went on, five cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint along with two bitterns. At least six marsh harriers were hunting west of the viewpoint and a muntjac deer was skulking nearby.
It was a bit murky in the afternoon but there was plenty of great white egret activity and at least three individuals were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint. A peregrine was hunting overhead and a small flock of bearded tits were showing just east of the viewpoint.
It was a bit dismal for my morning walk this morning with light rain falling when I arrived. A great white egret was showing in front of the Washland viewpoint along with two shelducks. As I walked along the riverbank towards the main road, a water pipit flew up and a female marsh harrier flew overhead.
I walked around Brandon Fen and two kestrels were perched up. A couple of lesser redpolls were feeding in the poplars and a green woodpecker was “laughing” nearby.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!