Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Hotting Up!

Another early start to Tuesday and greeted by a stunning full moon setting to the east, Yellowhammer already in song and a Fox watching me watching him as I walked to the car!

Moon-set - Not my best effort but you get the picture!
With the recent clear nights, ideal for migration, it seems that finally things are hotting up. Brandon Marsh this morning was once more a cacophony of birdsong when I arrived just after sunrise. A couple of Common Whitethroat and a half dozen Linnet on the farm pool reedbed before meeting up with Alban and Mike and the the usual walk through to the Wright Hide.

Garden Warbler
Near the sheep-field gate a Garden Warbler was in song, first picked out by Alban among the array of singing Blackcaps and finally showing for me before heading off. Almost immediately a Grasshopper Warbler began reeling not yards from our position, but unfortunately the vegetation prevented eye contact.

Three large broods of Mallards around Brandon today!
A first look at East Marsh Pool from Wright Hide gave up of note (3) Little-ringed Plover, (2) Redshank, (2) Oystercatcher, (2) Snipe, Grey Wagtail and a White Wagtail was briefly on Willow Island. A Cuckoo was heard calling as we passed by central marsh, which Alban had actually claimed earlier (on fire this morning that guy) and appeared to move through towards the west of the reserve.

A reported Greenshank on River Pool was picked up a little later in the morning by Peter and I who spotted it flying through Newlands and down towards phase three. A look at the screen area failed to locate the bird and a short stop at Carlton Hide had (2) Water Rail and (2) Little Grebe.