Good morning. I am pleased to say that the weather has improved markedly over the last couple of days so there has been plenty to see on the reserve. The weather improved as the day went on during Monday and the willow tit was showing fairly regularly on the peanut feeder in front of the visitor centre. A great white egret was seen from the Washland viewpoint and two cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint.
A great white egret was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint on Tuesday morning along with an oystercatcher and two shelducks. A barn owl was hunting nearby and when I got to the northern end of New Fen North, I heard a green sandpiper calling.
A bittern was booming in front of New Fen viewpoint and I took this picture of the storm clouds bubbling up over the reedbed:
Image credit: David White
When I got back to the visitor centre, an extremely smart male brambling was singing in the alders behind the visitor centre and the willow tit was showing well on the feeders. I also couldn’t resist taking a picture of the cowslips that were coming into flower in the wildlife garden in front of the visitor centre feeders:
As the day went on, at least two cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and three sand martins were over the Washland viewpoint. A bittern was also booming in front of Joist Fen viewpoint.
There were at least nine roe deer grazing alongside the entrance track as I drove in yesterday morning and as I opened up the visitor centre, I could hear the willow tit calling nearby. I walked around Brandon Fen with my camera and I photographed:
A snail:
The washland bathed in sunshine:
Image credits: David White
A female marsh harrier was hunting over Brandon Fen and a great white egret was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint. A pair of garganeys were found in front of the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime and when I went up to see them, a redshank flew over the large pool.
Suzanne and I were here bright and early this morning to do our second Common Bird Census (CBC) of the year around Brandon Fen. Just before we started, I went up the Washland viewpoint to try to catch the first light of dawn with my camera:
The highlights of our survey including seeing seven roe deer grazing alongside the entrance track and the slightly bizarre sight of a moorhen attempting to land in a pine tree at the edge of the car park. There were plenty of chiffchaffs singing and we could hear a bittern booming in the distance. Shortly after we got back to the visitor centre, the willow tit was photographed on the feeders in front of the visitor centre.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!