Visits to Brandon Marsh Thursday, Friday and Sunday produced few surprises on the birding front and I was unlucky to miss a
Sanderling on East Marsh Pool today, which was reported shortly after I'd left. Friday produced (3)
Grass Snake, my first
Large White butterfly of the year and excellent views of a ♀
Cuckoo, bubbling away as she flew over Newlands reed bed. I estimate at least two pair are currently on site.
 |
| Drinker Moth caterpillar |
On arrival this morning a
Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the top reeds as I drove down to the car park. When I eventually got to East Marsh Hide I was sad to hear that the four
Redshank young, which I thought had been doing so well, had unfortunately been predated.
 |
| Common Red Damselfly |
With the birding generally quiet the rest of the morning was spent with a few of the guys messing around with our bridge cameras:
Common Blue and
Large Red Damselflies were plentiful, along with a couple of
Drinker Moth caterpillars. Butterflies included
Orange-tip,
Brimstone,
Peacock and
Green-vein White.
This afternoon Dee and I had a stroll locally around
Stockton Cutting Nature Reserve, strangely enough somewhere we've never tried, even though it's right on our doorstep. Here we met up with Bob Hazell and his wife, does he ever go anywhere without his scope! After a catch up with Bob we had a cracking visit with some excellent butterflies including:
Small Blue,
Common Blue,
Speckled Wood, Brimstone,
Dingy Skipper,
Grizzled Skipper and
Large White. A couple of
Hairy dragonfly ended an enjoyable visit.
 |
| Dingy Skipper |
 |
| Grizzled Skipper |
Also worth noting that while writing my post this evening a
Barn Owl flew directly over the boat calling, amazingly my first local bird of the year!
