Well, maybe not quite everywhere but it certainly felt like it yesterday afternoon when we were watching 11 cranes flying around the reserve, making a racket with their distinctive bugalling calls!
Thursday, as ever, was work party day and we were just finishing lunch when the first crane calls were heard...soon the sky was full! We are almost certain that our two resident pairs were present as there was a distinctive group of four and three circling around, at one point the three (which we assume were Little, Large and their youngster) flew directly over our heads!
The family of four (Dave Rogers)
Counting them wasn’t the easiest as they kept dropping down or flying out of sight, but between us, with much excitement, we managed to confirm 11 of them. It was an effort to return to scrub removal after that, but we did manage it!
Having checked our records this appears to be the highest count of cranes we’ve ever had on the reserve at once. They are still a little elusive, but for the best chance of seeing them the recommended spots are Joist Fen viewpoint and along the river bank.
The day had already started off well with close up views of two barn owls along the main track from the visitor centre and later in the day an otter near Joist Fen viewpoint. Typically I had headed in the opposite direction at this point and missed it!
Whilst I may have missed the otter I did get to enjoy watching a stoat scampering around the hedge in front of the centre.
A stoat from sunnier times! (Matt Walton)
In other news, the great white egrets are still regularly on the washland but have also been reported flying along the river and in the fields north of the river.
Along the riverbank footpath there’s been regular sightings of stonechat and occasional sightings of water pipit.
Heading down into Brandon Fen, there’s been up to 20 brambling, 12 redwing, 2 collared dove, 12 redpoll, 3 meadow pipit and buzzard overhead. A group of up to 10 roe deer are also roaming round Brandon Fen and can often be seen as you drive along the entrance track.
A curlew calling over the visitor centre was a welcome addition to year list for us, unfortunately it didn’t touch down on the visitor centre pool for a quick wash like the bird below did last year!
Curlew outside Visitor Centre (John Wightman)