Brandon Marsh Mon 2nd May

Phew!  

Think I've caught up, after a couple of days off grid.....

A busy weekend called for a chilled out day, and the forecast looked dry for Monday, but cloudy. Well, I'm down in the dark murky underworld near Birmingham, what did I suspect....

So, with Middleton Lakes awkward to get to with roads closed while HS2 Phase 2 takes place (they've not long finished on nearby roads for Phase 1, and now I've to endure P2 diversions), it was Brandon Marsh, where I've not been for a few weeks.

Making good use of my 24/7 pass, and beating the prospective bank holiday crowds proved beneficial, if not to avoid the rush, but to capture the better photo opportunities.

The bluebells were there in the wooded area, but not as photogenic as Baddesley, and to be fair, the lack of sunshine was the prime reason for that.

After the usual suspects, robins, blackbirds, blue & great tits, the next sighting, as the call was getting nearer, a cuckoo on the now disused golf course next to Brandon.

Wandering further around to the first hide, only to see a very quiet pool, apart from, yes, Canada Geese. The quietness may be due to many species with eggs/broods, so it was no surprise, and the photo opportunities were still there. Now, as many know, I never let a quiet reserve hinder, there's always something to see,, sometimes you may need to look a little harder, but it's there, waiting.

Now I'm not one to take many photos of geese, unless they're eye catching, but even the Canada Goose got the limelight....

I'm guessing as this CG came close to the hide, when I say close, I could have stroked its head, but fear not, I value my finger so they stayed my side of the hise, at some point, it had been fed from the hide window!

Across the otherside of the pool, more Canada Geese, this time, goslings

A little further up and by the reed beds, a very noisy warbler fest was taking place, though many were keeping their heads down among the reeds....

But i did get some sedge  warbler piccies...

And as if not wanting to be overlooked, a little grebe came charging out!

More sedge warbler photos

And last before brunch, but definitely not least, Mr Reed Bunting...

Then it was time for a cuppa and sausage batch in the Badgers Tearoom, which very surprisingly, was almost devoid of people, on a Bank Holiday Monday.

So my favourite window table was vacant, and whilst enjoying my brunch, I could watch the wildlife having a splash in the small pond by the window...

Starting with a robin.

Just in case you were thinking that poor robin looked a bit mangled, it was having a whale of a time....

Mrs Blackcap also felt the need to look her best...

There were others, blue and great tits having a splash around, but the light was too poor, so next time, they'll get a look in. But one last warbler I think, and I think a reed warbler, however, any corrections (most likely) or confirmations gratefully received.

Nicely refreshed, back to the reed beds and this great tit proved a challenge to photo. it loved the reeds, but each time it landed on a reed, the GT was heavier than the reed, so the reeds would bend almost dunking the poor wee thing!

So it was point, shoot and hope for the best....

It was time to go, but the walk back as with the rest of the day, didn't fail to give photo opportunities, starting with this radiant cardinal beetle

and to end with, this female orange tip