Good morning.
If you read our blog regularly, you may know that several of the team here are into steam locomotives. I am proud to be one of them, so here is a picture of 60009 Union Of South Africa passing the reserve early last Saturday morning:
Image credit: David White
On Saturday afternoon, three black tailed godwits were showing well from the Washland viewpoint and a peregrine was hunting overhead. Two whinchats were also showing well around Brandon Fen.
Volunteer Paul and Katherine, one of our Wardens, did the first Wetland Bird Survey of the autumn on Sunday. They saw at least four great white egrets, which is an impressive count for this species on the reserve. They also saw a ruff and three common snipe from the Washland viewpoint.
Local photographer David Gowing took these lovely pictures of a kingfisher from Mere Hide on Monday:
Image credits: David Gowing
Thank you very much to David for sharing these great images with us.
On Tuesday, a grey wagtail flew over the visitor centre and two hobbys were perched up at the edge of the visitor centre pond. A kingfisher was making regular visits to the pond over the course of the day and at the end of the day, a roe deer was skulking at the edge of the pond.
On Wednesday morning, a kingfisher was showing well at the edge of the visitor pond and a chiffchaff was singing near the reserve entrance. As the day went on, a chiffchaff, three blackcaps and one common whitethroat were showing well at the edge of the visitor centre pond.
It was a lovely morning for a walk yesterday morning. There were at least 13 Egyptian geese showing well from the Washland viewpoint and a grey wagtail flew over. A small group of bearded tits were calling in front of New Fen viewpoint and when I got back to the visitor centre, a marsh tit was showing well on the visitor centre feeders.
A smart brown argus was showing well on the visitor centre lawn yesterday lunchtime. Meanwhile, further down the reserve, three cranes were seen over New Fen viewpoint and at least two great white egrets were seen from Joist Fen viewpoint. A bittern was also seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and a little ringed plover was seen from the Washland viewpoint.
In the evening Site Manager Dave saw a barn owl perched up on the photography station. This is good news as our local birds have been rather elusive recently.
This morning, at least two kingfishers were feeding near the visitor centre and a common snipe flew up in front of the Washland viewpoint. Several roe deer were also around. Two were near the Washland viewpoint and another was showing at the edge of the visitor centre pond.
If you are planning to visit the reserve, please note that there are still cattle grazing on the riverbank Public Footpath between the Washland viewpoint and Joist Fen viewpoint.
We hope to see you soon!