Good morning. The weather has been fairly kind this week which is good news for everybody enjoying the last week of the summer holidays. There has been plenty to see over the last week and here are some great images that we have been sent:
A red admiral:
A female common darter:
Image credits: Matt Walton
A juvenile water rail:
A male roe deer:
A kingfisher:
Image credits: John Gamble
Thank you very much to Matt and John for sharing these images with us!
On the subject of kingfishers, these beautiful little birds have been showing really well on the reserve recently. The two current "hotspots" are New Fen viewpoint and Mere Hide. You may also be interested to hear that we have two "kingfisher quest" events next weekend. One is on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Please click on the links for details about how to book places.
I have a large list of sightings in front of me so I will do my best to pick out as many as I can! Despite the weather on Monday, two stoats were gambolling around in front of Joist Fen viewpoint and a bittern was seen in flight nearby. At least two bearded tits were seen from Mere Hide and at least 50 swifts were feeding over the far end of the reserve.
On Tuesday, there were six little grebes on the washland and at least four common terns feeding in the large pool. There were dragonflies everywhere and the skies were just full of migrant hawkers. I saw a late black tailed skimmer near the Washland viewpoint and when I reached the viewpoint, a male clouded yellow flew right past me. This was a reserve "tick" for me so I was really rather pleased!
I had a walk around Brandon Fen on Wednesday morning and a muntjac deer ran across the path right in front of me. A meadow pipit flew from the washland into the grazing marsh and a common buzzard flew south over the visitor centre.
It was really rather dreary on Thursday morning but it did eventually brighten up. Roy saw a kingfisher and a water rail from Mere Hide. He also saw two hobbys over West Wood. The great white egret was also seen in flight near Joist Fen viewpoint. It has been pretty elusive recently so it's good to know that its still here!
There were at least 80 coots on the washland yesterday along with three little grebes. Two swallows were feeding over the large pool and a kestrel was hovering nearby.
We hope to see you soon!