A wet and dreary start at Brandon Marsh today but we finally managed to get down to some work on the screening re-build around the new hide mid-morning. Thanks to all for your feedback in relation to the hide, we've started to complete the check list of minor alterations today and the work will be ongoing over the coming weeks.
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| Spotted Flycatcher - On the path at Brandon leading to the new hide! |
The birding was reasonable with several
Swift still to be found around the reserve and an estimate of well over a hundred or so
House Martin feeding over Newlands, two
Sand Martin and numerous
Swallows also in the mix. Waders included three
Snipe,
Green Sandpiper and a single
Redshank on East Marsh Pool, with a brief visit from a
Greenshank, which I missed while working down at the hide. An
Egyptian Goose was also among the
Greylag flock once more, two
Little Grebe seen and also worth a mention the first
Common Gull of the late summer/autumn among the many
Black-headed. A single
Common Tern flew high south-east at one stage and also noted
Kestrel,
Sparrowhawk and
Buzzard, a
Hobby was reported from Teal Pool Hide but that was another I missed. After lunch a few
Southern Hawker Dragonfly on the wing, along with two
Gatekeeper, and single
Red Admiral and
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.
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| Spotted Flycatcher - Nearly nailed this one but just slightly over exposed on the Canon SX50 |
After work Derek and I went for a walk across the tip area in the improving weather conditions in search of migrants but a phone call from Alan Boddington had us back to the new hide, were Alan had picked up a
Spotted Flycatcher along the path leading from the Carlton Hide. Showing very well by the time we arrived and a first for the reserve this year if I'm not mistaken.
