It most definitely feels like spring is in the air here, however we had a brief return to winter on Wednesday afternoon with a very unexpected snow/hail shower. For a little while only the reserve was looking lovely with a sprinkling of snow;
A snowy visitor centre lawn - Emma Cuthbertson
But lets return to more pleasant talk of spring and the signs that are springing(!) up around the reserve...
Great crested grebes have begun their spectacular courtship dances and there’s at least two pairs currently displaying on the reserve. Look out for them if you head west down the riverbank from Joist Fen Viewpoint.
Our bitterns are not quite booming yet, but they are definitely beginning to warm up and have been reported grunting in various spots around the reserve, including Joist Fen and New Fen viewpoints. It made my afternoon to hear one this afternoon as myself and Katherine were out checking water levels.
New Fen viewpoint, listen out for bitterns! By David White
Other birds are starting to sing all around the reserve including a treecreeper heard in west wood, a skylark south of the railway line, great and blue tits in Brandon Fen and a particularly insistent dunnock just outside the visitor centre.
Around and about the washland viewpoint there’s been up to 24 whooper swans, three water pipit, two oystercatcher, up to 200 lapwing, kingfisher, six little egret, nine curlew flying over and great white egret!
It’s always worth a wander round Brandon Fen after the washland; a pair of stonechat are regularly seen perching along the fenceline, barn owls seen late in the afternoon and a green woodpecker. A bird that we’ve all been trying to track down for our lists – I’ve still not seen it and get the feeling it’s laughing at me!
It was a nice surprise on Monday afternoon to see two snipe feeding on the muddy edges around the visitor centre pool and an even better surprise to see a little egret out there the following morning.
Visitor centre pool in the sun - David White
In crane news, two pairs are regularly seen (and heard!) around the reserve. Joist Fen viewpoint is the recommended watching point, but you never know where they might appear! They've even popped up in front of one of our trail cameras!
Cranes and a train!