There has been a distinctive northern feel to some of our sightings over the last couple of days. Three northern breeding summer migrants have featured rather prominently: A ring ouzel, a wheatear and two whinchats.
The ring ouzel, which is presumably the same male that has been around on and off all week was seen around the Brandon Fen family trail on Friday morning:
Photo credit: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Shortly afterwards, a couple came back reporting four wheatears on the riverbank just north of East Wood:
Photo credit: Tom Marshall (rspb-images.com)
Meanwhile, further down the reserve, four cranes were seen in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint and a common buzzard was over the visitor centre. Katherine went for a walk around Brandon Fen just before closing time and saw the ring ouzel and a female wheatear feeding together. How lucky is that!
I went out early yesterday morning determined to see the ring ouzel and sure enough, I did. Third time lucky! It was feeding in some path side ruts near where the new trail branches off in Brandon Fen. I enjoyed a fantastic view of it through my ‘scope for at least five minutes.
While I was admiring the ring ouzel, I could hear a grasshopper warbler reeling in the distance. I eventually located the pesky little warbler and enjoyed views of it singing right out in the open which was fantastic. A couple got some fantastic video footage of it shortly after I left. As I plodded along the riverbank, I saw two shelducks on the washland near the ramp and a barn owl was hunting at very close quarters over the river. Very nice indeed!
We kept dashing out between us between rain showers and a female wheatear was located in Brandon Fen. It was perched on the newly excavated mounds in the middle of the grazing marsh. It was soon joined by the ring ouzel, so the two could be seen together once again! A hobby also flew over the visitor centre at lunch time.
There was great excitement when presumably the same two whinchats from earlier on in the week were seen feeding in teasels on the riverbank just north of New Fen North (the first area of reedbed):
Photo credit: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
I am sorry to say that at this point, I abandoned what little dignity I had left and “hastened” down to the appropriate spot. I was treated to fantastic views of both male and female whinchat which was fantastic. They were not only the first whinchats that I had seen for over two years, they were also my first ever Lakenheath Fen whinchats. How exciting!
I lead the marsh harrier & bittern walk this morning. Moreorless as soon as I got out of the car, I heard a bittern booming from New Fen North. The walk started well with fantastic views of a barn owl hunting over the washland pool. Our resident whooper swan was on the river along with a mute swan and an Egyptian goose.
As we walked further along the riverbank, we could hear a bittern booming in the distance. I located the two whinchats near the start of West Wood and we had a superb view of the male through my ‘scope for quite some time. As we walked alongside West Wood, we were also enjoying the distinctive aroma of the poplar blossom and leaves. Although it is difficult to describe, it will always remind me of here!
When we got to Joist Fen viewpoint, there were at least seven marsh harriers ducking and diving high over the reedbed. We could hear at least three individual bitterns booming and a Cetti’s warbler was “shouting” away near the viewpoint. We also had a great view of a common whitethroat perched on the top of a bush. Sadly, most of the group missed two cranes flying over as we left the viewpoint. As we walked back, we saw two coots with three young in front of New Fen viewpoint.
Just after we got back, at least three hobbys took to the air and two were photographed perched in West Wood. There were also at least 20 swifts pelting across the sky over the reserve. The male ring ouzel was also relocated in Brandon Fen. Plenty of butterflies are also out an about including plenty of peacocks, orange tips and green veigned whites. A stoat was also seen running along the hard track. There is plenty to see at the moment so we hope to see you soon.