Good morning. I will begin by sharing some images that were taken on the reserve last Friday that I haven’t had a chance to share yet:
Great crested grebe:
Great white egrets in flight:
Bittern:
The beautiful sunset:
Image credits: Cathy Ryden
Thank you very much to Cathy for sharing these lovely images with us.
On Monday afternoon, local birder Steve B found a pair of garganeys in New Fen South, the recently cut area between Mere Hide and Joist Fen viewpoint. A bittern was also booming well in front of Joist Fen viewpoint.
We did a very successful early morning bittern survey yesterday morning and there were at least nine males booming. We saw several birds in flight over the course of the survey, including two together shortly after first light.
Other highlights included seeing single cranes in flight on several occasions and hearing our first sedge warbler of the year. At least two great white egrets flew over and two swallows flew south overhead. We also saw a Muntjac deer dive in the water in front of us at one point which was rather entertaining.
If you would like to come and take part in one of our surveys this month, please follow this link for more information. Just make sure you wrap up warm if you come along as it was rather chilly yesterday!
As the morning went on, Suzanne heard a blackcap singing in Brandon Fen and three cranes flew west over the visitor centre mid-morning. A pair of avocets were also seen in New Fen South which is a good record for here.
I took a walk around Brandon Fen mid-afternoon in the rain. I saw a green woodpecker and a jay. I also saw two red legged partridges and six roe deer.
Once the rain had stopped, there were some interesting sightings from the Washland viewpoint:
A group of six redpolls were perched up in the poplars in the staff car park when I arrived this morning. I also saw five redshanks and a water pipit from the Washland viewpoint.
Suzanne went for a walk around Brandon Fen shortly after me and heard a blackcap singing. She also saw a barn owl hunting, which is the first record of this species in daytime hours for a couple of weeks.
A selection of road closures may affect your journey to and from the reserve over the next couple of weeks. Please click here for more information.
Also, just in case you haven’t heard, we have increased the entrance charge for non-members of the RSPB. Please read here for more information.
We hope to see you soon.