☔️☁️
12C Wednesday 5th December 2018 ~ Having been away recently and missed some decent sightings I decided that despite the rain I'd spend a few hours at Brandon Marsh in the hope of catching up on things.
The weather was pretty dire so I decided to head straight down to the East Marsh hide and sit for a while. I knew from the Warwickshire Birders Whatsapp group that two
Bewick Swans on site at first light had departed but from reports, the birds, along with a group of four
Whooper Swans tended to reappear over the course of the morning.
 |
| Caspian Gull |
There was a good selection of Gull's to scan and almost immediately I came across a
Caspian Gull, which I believe has been aged as a 4th calendar year bird, basically almost adult, gull ageing is not my forte but I'm learning!
I spent a good hour before I decided to head down to Carlton Hide, pausing at the Carlton Ditch to listen out for
Willow Tit, a regular here. There were several Blackbirds feeding on what's left of the almost depleted Hawthorn crops but a single bird took the eye. To my astonishment, it was a male
Ring Ouzel! Due to the weather, I'd only brought my old Canon SX50 but fortunately, I had the foresight to snap a few record shots, before pressing the record button. Apologies on the quality and the panning away from the bird but I wanted to get a perspective on the habitat and a few points of reference, something that sadly I tend to do these days after past experiences with, 'anoraks'!
 |
| Still of Ring Ouzel |
After the bird appeared to drop to the ground I moved around to the Carlton Hide, where I managed a brief second view to the left of the hide low in Hawthorn. Sadly, it wasn't seen again, despite more eyes joining the search, a very pleasing winter record,
Ring Ouzel was last seen at Brandon in 2007.
 |
| One of two Bewicks at Brandon today |
 |
| Whooper Swans on East Marsh |
Thankfully both
Bewick Swans and four
Whooper Swan did indeed return to East Marsh, giving a great opportunity to compare both species together. Also of note:
Stonechat along the bank at the main entrance,
Grey Wagtail, two
Otter sightings and a
Mink, the latter of which, despite their beauty is not a welcome sighting for the reserve.
