Good morning. Things are definitely starting to change here and a lot of species have now started moving. Before I get into that properly though, as promised, here are a few more pictures from last weekend:
Long tailed tit:
Marsh harrier:
Image credits: Dave Rogers
Bearded tit:
Image credits: Charles Whitfield King
Thank you very much to Dave and Charles for sharing these great images with us.
I decided to walk around the interior path of New Fen North, the first area of reedbed before work yesterday morning. A goldcrest was flitting about in a small willow and I disturbed a roe deer in West Wood.
There were also a few species on the move overhead including my first redwing of the autumn, a couple of linnets and a skylark.
As the day went on, the great white egret appeared on the washland and a willow warbler was showing well behind the visitor centre. A kingfisher was also fishing in the visitor centre pond.
A small copper was on the wing near the car park and Suzanne saw two stonechats in Brandon Fen at lunchtime.
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, bearded tits were heard calling near New Fen viewpoint and an otter was seen from the viewpoint itself. A hobby was hunting over the Washland viewpoint and a kingfisher was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint.
Wardens Katherine and Emma went down the reserve after work. They saw at least four marsh harriers hunting in front of New Fen viewpoint and a common snipe was showing well in front of Joist Fen viewpoint.
It was really rather chilly this morning but I had a very productive walk around Brandon Fen before work. There were at least three stonechats feeding alongside the riverbank Public Footpath and a female merlin was hunting over the washland. It was being mobbed by two rooks.
A great white egret was showing well in front of the Washland viewpoint and an otter was fishing in the river immediately east of the viewpoint. At least one kingfisher was also hunting in front of the viewpoint.
Emma saw a common buzzard on the entrance track on the way in and volunteer Roy went looking for the otter at the Washland viewpoint just after we opened. Although he didn’t see it, he did see a probable black tern. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay long enough for the rest of us to see so it will have to remain a “probable” unfortunately. However, he had better luck with a barn owl though, that he saw hunting right in front of the visitor centre!
There is plenty to see at the moment so why not come and visit? We hope to see you soon!