Good afternoon. As there has been so much to see recently and I probably won't be able to blog again until Friday, here are some more recent sightings from yesterday lunchtime onwards:
There was some excitement at lunchtime yesterday when local birders Ian and Kath found a female ring ouzel in Brandon Fen. Sadly, it didn't stick around for long though as it flew along the river shortly after it was found.
In the afternoon, at least 11 hobbys were feeding over New Fen viewpoint and a common snipe was showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond. I came down for a walk in the evening and saw two oystercatchers on the washland. I could also hear a grasshopper warbler singing in Brandon Fen and I saw two roe deer grazing on the entrance track.
I had a good look on the washland before work this morning and saw the following:
I also heard a grasshopper warbler singing next to the crack willow near the visitor centre and saw a garden warbler in the same area. A cuckoo flew east over the Washland viewpoint and I had a distant flight view of a turtle dove from the viewpoint itself.
When I got back to the visitor centre, I spotted this green veined white butterfly which was feeding in our staff car park:
Image credit: David White
There was plenty going on down at the far end of the reserve and three bitterns were seen flying together in front of Joist Fen viewpoint. Emma also saw her first grasshopper warbler of the year near Mere Hide while she was doing her latest Common Bird Census (CBC).
Local photographer Matt Walton was out and about early and he took these great photos:
Cuckoo:
Roe deer:
Hobby:
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Small tortoisehell butterfly:
Male marsh harrier:
Image credits: Matt Walton
Thank you very much to Matt for sharing these great images with us!
As the morning went on, volunteer Dave saw a water vole from New Fen viewpoint and a female hairy dragonfly alongside West Wood. Ex- Site Manager Norman also counted up to 30 hobbys feeding overhead from Joist Fen viewpoint.
An Arctic tern was reported from the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime. Sadly, it didn't stick around though as by the time I got up there, I could see three common terns and 21 black tailed godwits feeding on front of the viewpoint.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are now cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath. We also have plenty of spaces available on our bat night on Friday night. Please follow this link for more information and to find out how to book on to the event.
We hope to see you soon!