Good afternoon. There has been plenty to see over the last couple of days so here are some more recent sightings:
As reported yesterday, a glossy ibis appeared in New Fen North on Tuesday afternoon before relocating to the large pool in front of the Washland viewpoint where it has been since.
There were three roe deer grazing at the edge of the entrance track as I drove in yesterday morning and five lesser redpolls were feeding in the poplars in the staff car park.
The glossy ibis was showing well from the Washland viewpoint and a reed warbler was in subsong near the viewpoint. A nuthatch was singing near the visitor centre and a sedge warbler was singing in Brandon Fen.
Volunteer Pete saw two great white egrets alongside the river and a red kite over New Fen viewpoint. There was plenty of bittern activity with three chasing eachother over the far end of the reserve mid-morning.
I popped up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime to have another look at the glossy ibis. While I was up there, I also saw two avocets and five redshanks.
In the afternoon, a swallow flew along the river and a bittern made a brief appearance at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A single crane was also seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint. A short eared owl was hunting in front of the Washland viewpoint at 6pm and a barn owl was hunting in the same area.
It was really rather foggy first thing this morning but our first grasshopper warbler of the year was heard between the visitor centre and East Wood. A great white egret was feeding in front of the Washland viewpoint and the glossy ibis eventually appeared out of the murk in front of the viewpoint just before 9am.
As the morning went on, five roe deer were grazing at the edge of the entrance track and a bittern was feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond. We had a very successful bird ringing demonstration with the reserve Wildlife Explorer's Club and here are a few pictures of what was ringed:
Male great spotted woodpecker:
Goldfinch & male brambling:
Male siskin:
Shortly after I got back to the visitor centre after the event, I took this photo of the visitor centre pond bathed in the afternoon sun:
Image credits: David White
As the day has gone on, four green sandpipers were seen in New Fen North and another made a brief appearance at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A bittern wandered across the edge of the pond and two avocets were seen from the Washland viewpoint.
This afternoon, our first common whitethroat of the year was seen alongside the railway line. A late jack snipe was also reported in the newly cut area in New Fen North.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!