Brandon Surprise!

I knew that this weekends weather would slow things down a little on the migration front and so it was, with this mornings dawn chorus at Brandon Marsh a little more subdued than of late. In fact it was an hour into my visit before I even heard a Willow Warbler and no sign any of (3) Grasshopper Warblers, which have been quite vocal in various parts of the reserve recently.

Wood Warbler (A Real Surprise This Morning)

It therefore came as a real surprise as I was passing through New Hare Covert when a phone call from JR sent me jogging (well in a fashion) around to the 'Saga Sign', where steely eyed 'Bittern Man' Geoff Hood had located a Wood Warbler. A cracking find and I was really fortunate to be able to grab several decent images as the bird obligingly showed well for several minutes. As a footnote the bird had moved somewhat by the time I left a few hours later and was last seen in Horsetail Glade.

Common Sandpiper ( 1 of 3 at Brandon Today)

No sign this morning of yesterday's (2) Dunlin or drake Mandarin Duck, last seen around the Baldwin Hide area and the rest of today's visit threw up a few additions to the now established Brandon regulars and these included of note: (1) Swift,  (3) Common Sandpiper, (2) Ringed Plover (not many sightings this year thus far), (2) Yellow Wagtail, (1) White Wagtail and it appears that at least (3) Common Tern (hopefully breeding birds), have returned and have already starting forcing the now regular Lesser Blacked-backed Gulls off the rafts!

Also Worth a mention (3) late staying Lesser Redpoll, single Snipe and a Lesser Whitethroat, still very vocal and showing occasionally from the Olive Bench area.