Good morning. I have returned from a week off and suddenly, we are a third of a way through March! I did pay an early morning visit to the reserve last Thursday and here are a couple of my pictures:
Image credits: David White
I also had a brief wonder around on Sunday afternoon. Although the weather wasn’t ideal, a bittern was “grunting” quietly in New Fen North, the first area of reedbed. I also caught a brief glimpse of an owl hunting over Brandon Fen, which was most likely to be a barn owl.
Suzanne went for a walk around the reserve on Monday and there was plenty to see in Brandon Fen. This included at least 20 redwings, two bramblings and two siskins. A great white egret was also showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint. There were also two mistle thrushes showing well further down the reserve.
I returned to work yesterday morning and popped up to the Washland viewpoint before work. There were at least 29 tufted ducks feeding in the river. A common snipe flew up in front of the viewpoint and three water pipits were also feeding nearby. Three curlews flew over, calling as they went.
I had a quick walk around Brandon Fen where I found a pair of stonechats feeding on the riverbank. A song thrush and a blackbird were also singing near the car park.
As the day went on, I popped up to the Washland viewpoint at lunchtime and a great white egret was showing well in front of the viewpoint. A great crested grebe was feeding in the river and a skylark was singing overhead.
Katherine had to nip home at lunchtime and as she drove along the entrance track, she saw at least 10 roe deer and a muntjac deer. Suzanne saw a goldcrest near the visitor centre and a kingfisher up at the Washland viewpoint.
Emma and Dave had their annual appraisal out on the reserve and saw two cranes feeding just west of Joist Fen viewpoint. We all had a pleasant surprise just before home time when a barn owl flew right by the office window. It then proceeded to hunt behind the visitor centre for the next 10 minutes or so.
It’s raining at the moment so we have all been confined to barracks so far this morning. However, despite the weather, there has been plenty to see on the visitor centre feeders. This includes a great spotted woodpecker, a jay and a marsh tit.
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon.