Good afternoon. The cold weather has inspired me to weave a couple of fantasy references into this blog post so without further ado, I shall begin!
I went for a walk at lunchtime on Friday and on my way up to the Washland viewpoint, I bumped into Emma and volunteer Janet who were busy revamping Frederick, the willow dragon whose lair is near the pond dipping platform. Here is his head:
Image credit: David White
On the way up to the Washland viewpoint, two great white egrets flew up out of the grazing marsh in Brandon Fen and landed on the washland. From the viewpoint itself, a shelduck was showing well in the afternoon sun.
I was here bright and early on my day off on Saturday afternoon to photograph a steam locomotive coming past (please see below!). On the way down the reserve, I saw a great white egret from New Fen viewpoint and two roe deer skulking in Trial Wood.
Oh and I took this photograph of 46201 Princess Elizabeth passing through on it's way to Chester:
As you can see, it was producing a good amount of smoke! If you, like me are interested in this kind of thing, the same locomotive is due to be passing the reserve on Friday afternoon between 2pm-2.30pm (approximately) on its way from London to Norwich and back.
I ended up coming back for a walk later on in the day and as I walked around Brandon Fen, I spotted a woodcock that was perched on the track in front of me. A great white egret flew out of the grazing marsh in Brandon Fen towards the washland. I went down to Joist Fen viewpoint and on my way back through the reserve, I photographed some of the bays between the viewpoint and Mere Hide where reed cutting and burning has occurred recently:
Image credits: David White
I spotted a juvenile peregrine perched up in West Wood and I was very surprised to see a couple of migrant hawker dragonflies on the wing alongside East Wood.
On Sunday, a peregrine and a male sparrowhawk flew over New Fen viewpoint. A kingfisher was also fishing in front of the viewpoint. Site Manager Dave also saw a probable glossy ibis flying east along the river from the far end of the reserve.
I went for a walk before work yesterday morning and there were five shelducks in front of the Washland viewpoint along with a redshank. As I walked along the riverbank, I flushed a water pipit and as I approached New Fen viewpoint, I stopped to admire the new dragonfly platform that the reserve team are currently in the process of creating:
When I got to the viewpoint, a great white egret flew west overhead. As I walked back though the reserve, two more great white egrets flew west along the riverbank.
As the day went on, there was a bit of a raptor fest at New Fen viewpoint. A female marsh harrier was hunting over the reedbed and a male sparrowhawk flew over. A female merlin was perched up in Trial Wood and a common buzzard was calling in West Wood. A barn owl was also hunting along the riverbank which was lovely to see.
As I drove in this morning, a roe deer ran across the entrance track in front of me. A great white egret was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint along with three drake pochards and a water pipit. A stock dove was singing in East Wood and a grey wagtail was feeding in the Fen pools.
As the day has gone on, 20 whooper swans flew over the Washland viewpoint and a water pipit was rather bizarrely singing in Brandon Fen. At least one crane was reported from Joist Fen viewpoint along with good numbers of bearded tits. A barn owl was also hunting near the viewpoint.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!