Good morning. We have had some changeable weather so far this week so here are some sightings and pictures from the last few days.
Starting off where I left off on Sunday, we could hear a Cetti's warbler singing in the afternoon sunshine from our office window. There were also still several dragonflies on the wing, with at least one migrant hawker and several ruddy darters flying around near the visitor centre.
It was a lovely day on Monday and bearded tits were calling at various points on the reserve. At least five marsh harriers were also hunting over the far end of the reserve.
Sadly, it was a bit of a washout on Tuesday so there wasn't much to see. Fortunately, yesterday was much better and there was plenty to see in late autumn sunshine. Suzanne went for a walk around Brandon Fen and saw at least two goldcrests. She also saw 12 redwings and a couple of fieldfares.
Local photographer Martin Peake was here in the afternoon and he took these photographs along the riverbank:
Kingfisher:
Whooper swan:
Image credits: Martin Peake
Thank you very much to Martin for sharing these images with us.
It was really rather damp this morning. However, a common buzzard was feeding on the entrance track as I drove in. I walked around Brandon Fen and a jay was feeding in the track between the visitor centre and the car park. There was also a marsh tit calling near the visitor centre.
I had a quick look up at the Washland viewpoint and the water levels had come up considerably since the weekend. Good numbers of wigeons and teals were present and some lapwings were feeding at the edge of the pool.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint is now rather muddy in places. We recommend that you wear at least walking boots if you are planning to use that path.