Tuesday 15 April 2014

Brandon Marsh :: 15 April 2014

More than six months since we were here last. Saw photos when the site was more flooded but it seems to be back to usual again. Car park was full - well I suppose it is the school Easter break, that's why I was out on a Tuesday.

Began with lunch in the Badger tearoom. Decided that bacon and brie on a baguette trumps the panini. Then out onto the reserve and the glorious weather. No jay for Charlotte and missing the kingfisher wasn't ideal, but great spotted woodpecker and bullfinch to finish kept her happy.

So many chiffchaffs out on the reserve. Blackcaps too. Heard many whitethroats, but not one single sighting. ChiffchaffThe scrape on East Marsh was really quiet as was Newlands from the Carlton hide. Good on species, slow on numbers, other than warblers.

Today's sightings (46) included: magpie, greylag goose, great tit, chaffinch, pheasant, reed bunting, blue tit, dunnock, robin, pied wagtail, coal tit, carrion crow, coot, canada goose, tufted duck, mallard, grey heron, moorhen, kestrel, chiffchaff, blackbird, mute swan, great crested grebe, black headed gull, garden warbler, lapwing, cormorant, oystercatcher, redshank, gadwall, shoveler, blackcap, teal, sand martin, lesser black backed gull, little ringed plover, snipe, buzzard, kingfisher, little grebe, housemartin, woodpigeon, wren, great spotted woodpecker, feral pigeon and bullfinch.