It has been rather windy this week hasn’t it?! I will start with posting some pictures of yesterday’s rather spectacular Fen blow:
This amazing phenomenon is caused by high winds whipping up the peat and turning the sky almost brown. Yesterday’s “blow” was certainly the most spectacular one that I have seen since I have worked here.
Despite the wind, there has been plenty to see recently. There were some interesting wader records over the weekend with a ringed plover flying east along the river and a golden plover flew north west over Joist Fen. A common curlew also flew south east over the reserve.
A hobby was being mobbed by a kestrel north of West Wood on Sunday and a red kite was over Joist Fen viewpoint. Our first yellow wagtail of the year flew over on Sunday and a wheatear was in Brandon Fen on Monday. Several common whitethroats have also now arrived and can be readily located by their scratchy song.
I did my CBC (Common Bird Census) around Brandon Fen yesterday morning. It was extremely windy which made hearing bird song rather difficult. However, there were willow warblers singing near the visitor centre and in East Wood. A sedge warbler was singing just east of East Wood and a yellow wagtail flew out of the grazing marsh in Brandon Fen.
I sneaked out for another walk later on and was rewarded with a great view of a red kite over Brandon Fen and two water pipits along the riverbank. Reserve staff were out doing a “bittern listen” and needless to say, the birds weren’t making much noise in the wind (and even if they were, it would have been so hard to hear them anyway!)
Our local cranes continue to be seen from time to time either from Joist Fen viewpoint or north of the river. The local marsh harriers also remain very busy displaying and nest building. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there have not been many bearded tit sightings this week as it has been so windy! Let’s hope it drops a bit soon!
The weather is looking rather nice this weekend so why not come and visit. We hope to see you soon!