Good morning. As I don’t have many days left in the office before Christmas, this is likely to be my last recent sightings blog post before the big day:
Despite the fact that it was really rather chilly on Wednesday, local birder Steve saw at least one common darter dragonfly which is a very late record for this species on the reserve. A sparrowhawk was hunting over the visitor centre just before darkness fell and a tawny owl was calling in the darkness when we left.
I got up to the Washland viewpoint shortly after first light yesterday morning and I counted at least 157 whooper swans which is our highest count of this winter so far. Three shelducks were also present, which are not a species that we tend to see here that often at this time of year.
There were plenty of birds on the visitor centre feeders yesterday including a marsh tit and several siskins. A bittern was seen from Joist Fen viewpoint and a little owl was calling in front of the visitor centre shortly before we locked up to go home.
I had a nice walk around Brandon Fen before work this morning and it was mild enough for several of our resident birds to be singing. This included a blue tit and a distant song thrush. A flock of around a dozen siskins were also feeding between the car park and the visitor centre.
I spent some time up at the Washland viewpoint and saw the following:
We had a pleasant surprise when we opened up the visitor centre this morning: a green sandpiper was feeding at the edge of the visitor centre pond. This is certainly not a species that we see at the edge of the pond very often. A cryptically camouflaged common snipe was also present nearby.
The sun came out for a while and here are some pictures that I took which I hope you like:
Image credits: David White
Our annual programme of reed cutting started on Tuesday. This winter, we are cutting between Mere Hide and Joist Fen viewpoint. Please note that while this is taking place, reed burning is also now taking place so it may be a tad smoky behind Joist Fen viewpoint at times!
When it is finished, it will open up the habitat and provide feeding areas for the great white egrets that winter on the reserve. It will be visible from Joist Fen viewpoint, and it will look rather different for a while!
I have attached our Christmas opening times to this blog post. If you are unable to download the file, the information can also be found here.
That just leaves me to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I will return with some more recent sightings shortly after I am back at work on Saturday 29 December.
We hope to see you on the reserve soon!