Good morning. I will start by sharing a couple of pictures that have been taken here during the last week:
Female wasp spider:
Image credit: Stephen Davies
Wheatear in Brandon Fen:
Image credit: Jasper Grooms
Bittern at the edge of the visitor centre pond:
Image credits: Colin Sheridan
Thank you very much to Stephen, Jasper and Colin for sharing their images with us.
On Friday morning, there were three black tailed godwits feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint. A willow warbler and a chiffchaff were singing in East Wood and a garden warbler was skulking around on the riverbank. Two yellow wagtails also flew over, calling as they went.
A kingfisher was fishing at the edge of the visitor centre pond for most of the day. A bittern appeared at the edge of the visitor centre pond mid-morning which was good to see and wandered around out in the open for a while.
A small tortoiseshell butterfly was sunning itself on the visitor centre lawn during the afternoon and a female common lizard was basking on the raised plant bed. Meanwhile, further down the reserve, the family of four cranes were seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint.
Three roe deer were showing well in Brandon Fen yesterday morning and a collared dove flew over. A family of reed warblers were feeding in the alders behind the visitor centre and a garden warbler was in the same area. A coal tit was also singing in front of the visitor centre.
As the morning went on, two kingfishers were fishing at the edge of the visitor centre pond and a Roesel’s bush cricket was showing well on our visitor centre window. A grey wagtail was feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond for a while and a hobby was hunting over Mere Hide.
There were a couple of interesting species showing from the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime including:
A common buzzard was hunting overhead and a willow emerald damselfly was showing well near the visitor centre.
As the afternoon went on, two cranes were reported from Joist Fen viewpoint and at least three different bitterns were seen in the same area. Volunteer Roy spotted a sexton beetle near the viewpoint and also a couple of common frogs alongside Trial Wood.
A kingfisher was showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond when I got here this morning and a Muntjac deer was barking in East Wood. When I got to the Washland viewpoint, a wood sandpiper and three dunlins were showing well in front of the viewpoint. A tree pipit also flew over, calling as it went.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, a great white egret flew over New Fen viewpoint and a lesser whitethroat was seen near Joist Fen viewpoint. At least two kingfishers were showing well from Mere Hide.
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!