Firstly, we would like to aplologise for the lack of updates this week. We have been very busy and hopefully normal service will resume this week. Anyhow, don’t you just love May?! Several factors conspired to make this past weekend the busiest of the year so far. Not only had at least one golden oriole arrived, the rather smart male red footed falcon was still around and entertaining visitors:
Photo credit: Ian Goodall
The male golden oriole was singing away intermittently in West Wood on Friday and a peregrine was seen south of Joist Fen viewpoint.
On Saturday, the red footed falcon was showing well over New Fen viewpoint along with six hobbys. There were at least 60 swifts over the car park and two avocets flew over Brandon Fen. A stoat was also seen near the Fen pools and a bank vole was also photographed:
Photo credit: Phil Smith
Les was luck enough to get some great pictures on Sunday including the red footed falcon:
And a cuckoo:
Photo credit for both images: Les Bunyan
There was an intriguing report of a female golden oriole in the poplar woods yesterday which is a really encouraging sign.
I went for a walk early this morning as I hadn’t heard a golden oriole yet this year. Although I didn’t hear one, there was plenty of other things to see and hear. There were noticeably more garden warblers around then the last time that I had walked around the reserve. There was at least one singing in each of the poplar woods and another one in the bushes alongside the railway line. A blackcap was also singing in Trial Wood just to keep me on my toes.
The local cuckoos were very vocal with at least three individuals out and about. One was calling in Brandon Fen and another was in West Wood. I also saw one in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint.
The local marsh harriers were conspicuous and one was carrying prey in front of Joist Fen viewpoint. I heard at least three bitterns booming and I saw the same bird several times in flight from Joist Fen viewpoint. There were plenty of Cetti’s warblers singing away and I saw a mute swan with five cygnets which was rather nice.
A hobby was perched in West Wood and a grasshopper warbler was singing between Trial Wood and West Wood (the furthest two poplar woods.) I also heard a probable spotted flycatcher calling in Trial Wood and a golden oriole was singing in West Wood just after I got back to the visitor centre. The red footed falcon was also perched up in West Wood.
There was fantastic news this morning when we discovered that the great tits that feature in our nestcam are now feeding young! It seems like all five eggs hatched on Sunday evening and both adults are now very busy bringing food in for the little ones. It is absolutely fantastic to watch!
We have several lost property items from this weekend. If you were here over the weekend and you are missing some car keys and/ or a camping chair just give the office a ring on 01842 863400 and we will see what we can do to get them back to you. We hope to see you soon!