⛅ ☔ Thursday 27th April 2017 ~ Brandon Marsh continues to frustrate,
in more ways than one, with little movement on the birding front. That said there were a few highlights today which included my first
Hobby of the year from the Carlton Hide (later on Farm Field) and a
Grasshopper Warbler, which showed beautifully but for an all to brief period!
⛅ Friday 28th April 2017 ~ I had planned my usual visit to Brandon Marsh today but instead decided on a change, heading off to Summer Leys Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire. There came a point when I regretted my decision, having took nearly two hours (normally 40mins) to get there due to a motorway closure but I'm glade I persevered!
My first stop was the Pioneer Hide and it wasn't long before I was scanning thirty or so terns, mostly
Common but eventually picking out two
Arctic Terns before a single
Black Tern took my eye. I was chatting away to a nice lady called Sue about the terns when a commotion to the right caught our attention, a group of
Black-headed Gulls mobbing a
Bittern. The bird circled twice before dropping down into the reeds at the scrape area. A delighted Sue and I said I'd give her a mention ✋ to my reader! Several
Little Egret to be found today and a brief view of a
Great White Egret in flight over towards the Paul Britten Hide was an added bonus.
 |
| Bullfinch at the feeders ~ Not too many photo opportunities today! |
Several
Swifts also today along with the many mixed Hirundines as I made my way around to the Paul Britten Hide, which has better views of the wader scrape. The usual warblers on route but sadly not a great selection of waders with just (4)
Redshank and a single
Common Sandpiper noted. A nice Male
Yellow Wagtail also dropped in for a short while. Further along the track a
Hobby, (2)
Red Kite and (4)
Common Buzzard enjoying a thermal, with excellent views of a couple of
Hobby low over the water from the viewing screen a short while later. The feeders at the Charles Towler Hide offered an opportunity for a male
Bullfinch photograph before I headed off to complete the circuit.
 |
| Record shot of my 1st Garden Warbler of the year! |
Just before completing the circuit and reaching the car park my first
Garden Warbler of the year, heard and seen! Denis Woodward was now in the hide and so we met up in the car park and he and I tracked back for the
Garden Warbler, which showed extremely well, long enough in fact for a photo! We departed a little after 2.30pm with the two
Hobby and single
Black Tern still showing well, a very enjoyable visit!
