Good afternoon. I will start off with some late news from Sunday: Despite the fact that it was pouring it down with rain at the time, a rather damp looking bittern appeared briefly at the edge of the visitor centre pond mid-afternoon. Although it quickly disappeared again, it was lovely to see nonetheless.
I went for a walk before work on Monday morning and counted eight Egyptian geese in front of the Washland viewpoint before work. A female marsh harrier was hunting over the large pool and a yellow wagtail flew over, calling as it went.
As I got to the edge of East Wood, a hobby flew out of the wood and spent some time chasing house martins over the river. A kingfisher was also feeding in front of New Fen viewpoint.
As the morning went on, two black tailed godwits and a garganey were showing from the Washland viewpoint. Administrator Suzanne and volunteer Darren walked down to the far end of the reserve. They saw six late swifts and a bittern in flight. They also saw the family of four cranes flying north overhead.
I went for a walk at lunchtime and saw a smart small copper butterfly near the pond dipping area. I also had a brief glimpse of a spotted flycatcher at the edge of the visitor centre pond.
On Tuesday, a great white egret was seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint. A bittern was also seen from Mere Hide.
Yesterday morning, there were around 150 lapwings feeding on the washland before they were put up by a hobby. A water rail was also squealing near the Washland viewpoint. When I got back to the visitor centre, a jay was mimicking a common buzzard in the staff car park.
As the day went on, five common snipe flew up in front of the Washland viewpoint and marsh tit was showing well on the visitor centre feeders. Meanwhile, further down the reserve Warden Katherine saw a great white egret and a family of bearded tits at the far end of the reserve. The family of four cranes were also seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint during the afternoon.
I took a few pictures while I was out on the reserve this morning that I hope you like:
The view from the Washland viewpoint:
Common toadflax:
The visitor centre pond:
Image credits: David White
A long winged conehead, which is a species of bush cricket, was showing well on our office window during the morning. Suzanne and I took the bins down to the end of the road and we heard a willow warbler calling along the entrance track. Volunteer Mark B spotted a lesser whitethroat feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond and a bittern flew into the edge of the pool at lunchtime. It has been showing well on and off ever since.
A great white egret was showing well from the Washland viewpoint in the early afternoon and volunteer Mark G found a wheatear in Brandon Fen which was nice to see. A lucky visitor spotted a whinchat near the stile at the edge of East Wood and a willow emerald damselfly was showing well near the visitor centre.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are still cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!