Good morning. After the last two mornings were frosty and rather beautiful, it was a bit of a shock to find that it was raining when I arrived bright and early this morning! I will begin with a couple of pictures that were taken on the reserve earlier on in the week:
Bittern in the fog:
Image credits: Martin Peake
Visitor centre pond on Wednesday morning:
Image credit: David White
On Wednesday morning, Suzanne went up to the Washland viewpoint to look for the 10 whooper swans that I had found earlier on. Although she didn't see them, she did see a kingfisher which was at least some consolation!
I went up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime and found a shelduck which is the first record of this species on the reserve for some time. When I got back to the visitor centre, I bumped into local bird ringer Simon who reported at least three pairs of stonechats in Brandon Fen. He also reported that he had ringed a water pipit, which is a good ringing record for the site.
Suzanne went for a walk around Brandon Fen later in the afternoon and she saw two of the aforementioned stonechats. She also saw two common buzzards hunting overhead.
I was rather surprised to find a roe deer standing on the entrance track as I drove in yesterday morning. I walked around Brandon Fen via the Washland viewpoint and a great white egret was showing well in the large pool. It was feeding with five little egrets and a shelduck. As I walked east along the riverbank, I saw two water pipits near the bend in the river,
As the morning went on, there were two great white egrets in front of the Washland viewpoint along with a single whooper swan (which Suzanne did see this time round by the way!) Dave went down to the far end of the reserve and saw six bearded tits near Joist Fen viewpoint. He also saw two roe deer and a muntjac deer on his travels.
Meanwhile, at New Fen viewpoint, a grey wagtail was feeding at the edge of the pond. Volunteer Dave was also fortunate enough to see an otter on the interior path in New Fen North.
At lunchtime, two grey wagtails were feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond. They were really rather close at times, offering good views to the local photographers.
In the afternoon, a family of three whooper swans dropped in to the far end of the reserve and a very smart male marsh harrier was hunting in front of Joist Fen viewpoint. A woodcock also flew out from near the viewpoint at dusk.
There was plenty to see despite the rain this morning. A little egret and a grey heron were feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond shortly after I arrived. A great white egret was feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint along with eight little egrets.
As I walked along the riverbank, a stonechat was feeding north of East Wood and two water pipits flew west along to river into New Fen North, the first area of reedbed. When I got to New Fen viewpoint, a common snipe flew up in front of me. I walked around Trial Wood and photographed this impressive fallen tree stump in the wood:
As I walked back alongside the railway line, I spotted three roe deer lurking at the edge of East Wood. When I got back to the visitor centre, I was very pleased to hear a song thrush singing in the staff car park which has certainly brightened up the day!
If you are planning to visit the reserve early tomorrow (Saturday) morning, the steam locomotive 46201 Princess Elizabeth is due to be passing the reserve with it's train on it's way from Norwich to Chester just after 8am. If you are planning to come and see it, you will probably see me there!
We hope to see you on the reserve soon.