Good afternoon. There has been a lot going on here recently so without further ado, I will carry on where I left off on Saturday.
A common toad was croaking by the pond dipping platform and a brimstone butterfly was on the wing near the car park. Two great white egrets were on the washland and a single crane was seen flying into New Fen North, the first area of reedbed.
As the day went on, another common toad was croaking by the visitor centre pond and a grass snake was seen just down the hard track. A brambling was singing in the alders behind the visitor centre and a peacock butterfly was on the wing in Brandon Fen.
It was a bit of a mad day on Sunday but before it got really busy, the willow tit was seen on the peanut feeder in front of the visitor centre and a blackcap was singing in the staff car park. Three garganeys were seen from the Washland viewpoint and seven roe deer were grazing alongside the entrance track.
We had our grazing themed family fun day and here are some pictures of the animals:
South Down sheep:
Original population Dairy Shorthorn calf:
Norman the goat:
Image credits: David White
A good time was had by all and it was good to see the reserve very busy.
There were several bitterns booming out on the reserve yesterday and a single crane flew from New Fen North towards Joist Fen viewpoint and a stoat was seen near New Fen viewpoint.
There was some excitement yesterday when a water vole swam across the visitor centre pond. It’s great to know that these elusive mammals are out and about on the reserve.
I went for a walk around Brandon Fen before work this morning. I saw a kingfisher from the Washland viewpoint and a female marsh harrier was hunting over the grazing marsh. A marsh tit was calling in the poplars and a pair of shelducks were displaying to eachother in the rabbit warren.
The reserve is full of ecologists today and they headed down the reserve this morning. They saw a wheatear and heard several bitterns booming. A group of around 15 sand martins were feeding overhead along with a single house martin.
I went and did some pond dipping with a group of children and there was a willow warbler singing right behind the platform. We went for a walk around Brandon Fen and heard a sedge warbler singing in the reedbed.
I went out armed with my camera at lunchtime and took these photos:
The grape hyacinth in the Brecks raised bed:
The cowslips in the wildlife garden raised bed:
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!