You'd think that with all the
Yellow-browed Warblers currently residing in the UK one would have the good grace to venture a little further inland. Although it would be difficult to get much further from the coast than Warwickshire! Since arriving back from France I've spent the best part of the days dissecting many a hawthorn, bramble and willow, particularly at Brandon Marsh hoping to strike lucky, but sadly to no avail.
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| One of three Stonechat - Farm Field at Brandon Marsh |
Having said that there's nothing better than being driven by anticipation and the many foraging flocks I've encountered have contained a host of species including
Blackcap,
Chiffchaff,
Goldcrest,
Coal Tit ,
Willow Tit,
Marsh Tit and
Treecreeper. Doing the rounds at Brandon Marsh at least three large flocks of
Siskin have been evident and the first
Lesser Redpolls are beginning to arrive, still no
Redwing as yet to speak of.
Meadow Pipits can be found and most visits produce several
Skylarks passing overhead, more often heard then seen!
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| Another Stonechat on Farm Field |
Jays are up to their usual autumnal habits, busy burying the odd acorn, only to forget where they've hidden them and thus helping to populate Brandon with more oak trees! Farm Field is currently playing host to at least three
Stonechat, although during a visit today I only managed the one. If you do happen to head that way your odds-on to encounter a
Green Woodpecker, with an amazing count of eight today.
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| Brandon Marsh Great White Egret - Courtesy of Fred Stokes |
Although I've not spent much time in the hides I managed a ♀
Pintail and
Peregrine on Sunday morning and its also evident that
Wigeon have taken to Brandon, with over 100 on site most days. Perhaps preferring the calmer waters to that of nearby Draycote Water, where once they were numerous, Draycote now seemingly devoting itself entirely to sports activities. A phone call on Monday morning had me scurrying over to East Marsh Hide where a
Great White Egret had dropped down in front of Fred Stokes. Unfortunately by the time I got there the bird had flown, such a rare visitor to Brandon. Another bird to look our for is a leucistic
Black-headed Gull which appears to be a constant visitor among the many gulls.
Finally a couple of species absent here at the marina for the past few years have recently re-emerged. Firstly, a
Kingfisher seen around the pontoons and a
Little Owl, which another moorer spotted on one of the telegraph poles on Sunday evening!
