Good morning! The last couple of days have been absolutely fantastic for barn owls and these beautiful birds have been showing really well. Here are a couple of recent pictures of them:
Image credits: Matt Walton
I went for a walk after work on Thursday in the evening sunshine. I saw at least three barn owls. This included one behind the washland pool, one in front of Joist Fen viewpoint and one just behind the visitor centre. A kingfisher was fishing in the river and a green sandpiper was on the washland north of West Wood. A bittern was also grunting in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
My luck with barn owls continued yesterday and saw three individual birds before work. This included one behind the washland pool, one over Brandon Fen and a very pale male behind the visitor centre. A great white egret flew over the washland pool and a water pipit was on the washland.
There was plenty to see further down the reserve. Three cranes were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and at least one bittern was seen in the same area. A Chinese water deer was also grazing in Humphrey’s Paddock, which is a good record for here.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first bird I saw when I got here this morning was a barn owl! It was hunting alongside the entrance track as I drove in. There were three marsh harriers hunting in front of New Fen viewpoint and a bittern was grunting in the reedbed. Two roe deer were also grazing just behind the viewpoint.
An early birder had been down the reserve before us and saw a swallow over West Wood. This is the first record of this species on the reserve this year. A drake garganey was on the washland and a bittern was showing well in front of Joist Fen viewpoint. A drake pochard was also flying around over the viewpoint.
I will leave you this morning with three lovely pictures of bearded tits that were taken here on Thursday morning. I hope you like them:
Thank you very much to Matt for sharing these great images with us. We hope to see you soon!
Yes they are great pictures aren't they?!