Good morning. Although the weather hasn't been great this Easter weekend, there has still been plenty to see so here are some more recent sightings:
On Friday morning, a male brambling was showing well on the visitor centre feeders. A black tailed godwit and four common snipe were feeding in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
There were 74 shovelers and 32 wigeons feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint. A water rail was also showing well in front of the photography station.
I went up to the Washland viewpoint on Saturday morning and saw the following:
As the morning went on, a water rail was showing well from the photography station along with four bramblings. A chiffchaff was also feeding in the same area.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, volunteer Roy saw two different bitterns from Joist Fen viewpoint. He also heard one booming in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
Two green sandpipers flew north over the visitor centre shortly after I arrived yesterday morning. A group of five avocets were feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint along with a pair of pintails.
Two treecreepers were seen at the edge of the car park and a male brambling made a brief appearance on the visitor centre feeders. Our first willow warbler of the year was also heard calling near the photography station.
There was an intriguing report of a lesser spotted woodpecker flying over the visitor centre mid-morning. Presumably the same drake garganey from Thursday was seen in New Fen North during the afternoon.
There were three roe deer grazing on the entrance track as I drove in this morning. They were looking rather miserable in the wet weather!
Although it was really rather damp, I braved the weather and went for a walk. At least eight bramblings were feeding in the poplars near the car park and some of them were singing their wheezy songs.
As I walked alongside East Wood, I could hear a chiffchaff singing. This is the first one that I have heard on the reserve this year.
I stopped at New Fen viewpoint and took this photo from inside the shelter:
Image credit: David White
There were five pochards feeding in front of the viewpoint (four males and one female). A male little grebe was also calling nearby.
I had a pleasant surprise as I walked back through the reserve: two ravens flew up from south of the railway line and headed north over East Wood. These were presumably the same birds that have been hanging around on and off since mid-February. As this is the first time I had connected with them, I was rather chuffed and it was certainly worth getting wet for!
Reserve notices
Firstly, the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint is still very muddy. You will need wellies to negotiate it at present.
Secondly, our Wild Things at Easter trail is now up and running around the Brandon Fen family trail. Please read here for more information.
Thirdly, our new entrance charge for non-members started yesterday. Please read here for more information.
We hope to see you soon!