Good morning. Apologies for the lack up updates recently, I haven't been here much. Here are from sightings from yesterday onwards:
Most of the team were in early yesterday morning to do various surveys. Suzanne and I did our first Common Birds Census (CBC) of the year around the Brandon Fen family trail. As we drove in, there were two roe deer grazing on the entrance track.
We left the visitor centre at 6.30am and there were plenty of common birds singing. A barn owl was hunting along the entrance track as we walked along and another five roe deer were grazing along the riverbank.
Although it was rather frosty, the open area in Brandon Fen looked lovely in the morning sunshine:
A great white egret was showing well from the Washland viewpoint as we passed by. We were also treated to fabulous views of a water rail from the new photography station near the visitor centre.
When we got back, a brambling was feeding in the alders behind the visitor centre and a goldcrest was singing in front of the visitor centre.
The reserve team got back from their bittern survey just after 9am. They had heard at least five booming males which is an encouraging sign. They had also seen a single crane in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint.
As the morning went on, volunteer Steve spotted two avocets and three pochards in front of the Washland viewpoint, which are both good records for here. We popped up to have a look and I spotted a hybrid which was most likely to be a tufted duck x pochard hybrid which was interesting to see. Please click this link to find out what one looks like!
In the afternoon, volunteer John W spotted a smart male garganey in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed. He also saw 11 pochards, which is a very high count for here (and possibly a new reserve record count!)
There were two roe deer grazing on the entrance track as I drove in this morning. A barn owl was hunting near the car park just after 7am. I had a quick look from the Washland viewpoint and spotted two avocets swimming in the large pool.
As I walked along the riverbank, two great white egrets and a bittern flew up in front of me within a minute of eachother which was pretty exciting! Two redshanks also flew along the river, calling as they went.
As I walked past New Fen viewpoint, two male little grebes were calling in the reedbed. Two more avocets were feeding in the middle of New Fen North. They were soon joined by two oystercatchers and presumably the same avocets that were on the washland earlier on (they flew in from that direction!).
When I got back to the visitor centre, I took this photoograph of the visitor centre pond in the morning sunshine:
Image credits: David White
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 around Brandon Fen starts today. It will run daily until Sunday 15 April. Please read here for more information.
Thirdly, on Sunday, we will be changing from a car parking charge to an entrance charge for non-members of the RSPB. Please read here for more information.
We hope to see you soon!