Now the Flood!

My first task just before dawn today was to try and locate a Long Eared Owl which I've heard calling just before dawn at the marina recently. Unfortunately, and as ever with birding, there was no sign and no calling on the morning I'd earmarked for a substantial search of the grounds, and so I duly set off for Brandon.

Black ice was a major issue on the back roads this morning and so I made my way gingerly through Birdingbury and Marton village, before finally arriving at 7am. The drive from the main gate to the security gate produced my first real spot of the day as a silhouetted Woodcock flew low just in front of me.

After parking I made my way to the Sheepfield ridge, disappointingly only producing one Barn Owl today, which of course I was too late to see. However, I needn't have worried as shortly after I had good views of a single bird perched just above the 'Oak Tree' box. On to the Wright Hide and East Marsh Pool, which I'm happy to say is starting to thaw nicely, this produced a male and female Goldeneye, Pochard and Little Grebe amongst the usual Tufted, Teal and Shoveler, JR also mentioned 2 Goosander present yesterday, but no sign today. After a further scan the steely eyed 'Bittern Man', as I've now nicknamed him, Mr Geoff Hood, located a single Bittern skulking in the reeds just in front of the Big Hide!

Leaving the Wright Hide we made our way straight to West Marsh, as due to the River Avon currently being in flood the Big Hide, Teal Pool and Carlton Hide are currently un-accessable, much to the disappointment of Brandon's Sunday photographic fraternity!

The West Marsh pool produced a second Little Grebe and a good view of Sparrowhawk as he shot past the hide. On the path leading away we enjoyed an unexpected site of a Field Vole (pictured), who'd obviously been displaced by the flooding. A nice walk over the 'Tip' area and Farm Field had 5 Skylark, Green Woodpecker and Common Buzzard.

Another Twitch!

Not bad for a non Twitcher but two in one week! Well I simply couldn't resist the lure of 17 Bewick's Swans.

Word came through while working at Brandon Marsh this afternoon of these magnificent birds not 5 miles away from our location, why couldn't they be more thoughtful and drop in here I thought?

Anyway after work and a quick coffee, so quick I left half, several of the Conservation Team went a twitching. In convoy and following our beloved leader, we eventually caught up with 14 of the 17 reported birds feeding in a field at Bretford. Magnificent they looked too in the snowy backdrop and once again well worth the effort of another twitch!

A Grandborough day out

If someone would have told me that I'd have Bittern right on my doorstep I'd have told them to keep taking the tablets.

However, it seems that one of my fellow boaters has struck lucky with a sighting directly from her boat window. I've no reason to doubt the lady either as she appears to know her stuff, not the very least the description of what she saw which tallies completely with that of a Bittern sighting.

We're surrounded by reedbed here at Wigram's, and only a small hop to the nearby Napton Reservoir, which also boasts a large reedbed, and so it's not impossible. I myself have paid several visits to the area in question but have come up with a blank, and so for me the report is unconfirmed, but I'm not giving up yet.

I'm not a twitcher either but couldn't resist a visit to the nearby village of Grandborough this morning. Only 6 miles from my location and currently boasting a wintering Great Grey Shrike.

I duly arrived, not really knowing what to expect, but was glad I made the effort. Having eventually found the reported area I wasn't surprised to see other birders in the locality and before long several frozen twitches were on site. Around 300 Linnet were showing well and it wasn't long before the first rapture of the day arrived in the form of a Merlin (Library Picture). I watched in amazement as she took a Linnet right in front of me and departed to a nearby roost for lunch. Over the period she was joined by a male and during my 3 hour stay both birds attacked the Linnet flock on several occasions.

After almost 2 hours and no sign of the Shrike, which was apparently showing well yesterday, I took a walk further down the footpath to get the blood flowing. I had Raven, Fieldfare, Buzzard and a Fox before doubling back to find myself alone with more excellent views of Merlin, but still no Shrike. Not one to give up I persevered for a further 45 minutes and was rewarded for my stamina by a distant view of a Grey Grey Shrike, incredibly appearing to hover for several seconds before perching on one of the many telephone wires. Not the best view I've ever had but a Great Grey Shrike nevertheless.

Big Freeze

As the big freeze continues I took the opportunity to have a good look around our marina in the hope of finding something unusual to the site!

With temperatures remaining below zero during daylight hours the canal and surrounding waterway remains solid, probably around 4 inches from what I've seen. The nice thing is that a good number of long term moorer's have numerous feeding stations strategically placed around the locality, and so the local bird population appears well off. This includes our Ducks, Swans and Waders which consists of good numbers of Mallard, several Hybrid, a lone Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Mute Swan. Interestingly enough the ducks have managed to maintain an unfrozen area of the marina, and as co-incidence would have it, right next to a boat who regularly feeds them!

At Wigram's we also have a good population of Tree Sparrow and I'm happy to report that they were in good numbers today, chattering away within the Bramble and Hawthorn. Another bird which also nests here in the surrounding Phragmites Reed is the Reed Bunting, a bird which tends to become anonymous in the Winter but more recently has become numerous, obviously weather related, I counted 49 on site today. A number of Pied Wagtail were scurrying around the ice too and a Green Woodpecker has taken a liking to my feeding station.

Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch are also regular visitors, along with the usual Blue and Great Tit, I also heard a Coal Tit calling at one stage. I noted a hunting Kestrel in an ajacent field, closely followed by a Common Buzzard, and to my delight a Raven flew East To West toward Napton Reservoir, easily recognised by the constant croaking as it flew. Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird were also present but our resident Kingfisher has probably nipped off to the local river in search of food.

Over a glass of mulled wine I spent around 30 minutes on a sky-watch and noted Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Redwing, good numbers of Feildfare and just before dusk a good number of Gulls heading for Draycote Water for the regular nightly roost. However, the best was to come as just prior to getting back aboard into the warmth of the boat a Woodcock skimmed above the ice heading West. Amazingly my 3rd of the week as I recorded 2 of these fantastic birds at Brandon Marsh on Tuesday! More recently our Tawny Owls have become muted as it's been several nights now without hearing one, I'd also hoped for Brambling today but alas it wasn't to be!

(Pictured - A mute Swan decides to head for Warwick)

Stunning!

An additional work party day to complete more work on the Newlands reedbed phase 3 project took me to Brandon this morning. I don't know whether I'm just becoming immune but it felt a lot warmer by comparison to recent days, only -1C on arrival.

Three Barn Owls, which seem to have now established themselves were seen quartering Sheepfield once more, but the surprise was to come a little later. Firstly though, a visit to Wright Hide where a Little Egret was seen sitting on a fallen Willow just above the ice, a nice tick for only the 5th day of the new year.

On to Teal Pool and the Main Hide for a quick look before work commenced, a few of us then deciding to venture along to Carlton Hide to keep the blood circulating!

However, no sooner had we perched on the benches a phone call from JR, who had remained in Main Hide, sent us scurrying back at break neck speed. On arrival a Great White Egret had just flown in to join his smaller friend on the fallen Willow. What an amazing site and much to the delight and then immediate disappointment of the keen photographer's of the team, who had not brought their camera's!

Sorry but I popped the above picture in to show what you've missed guys!!!

As the snow set in and we made our way back to the Nature Centre for tea, the Little Egret was still present, but sadly his friend had departed. Also worth a mention was a large flock of mostly Lesser Redpoll, circa 100, which packed one of the Alders as we made our way back.

Nice Start!

My first visit to Brandon Marsh for 2010 but only just! Having set off before daybreak on another bitterly cold morning I limped into Brandon 30 minutes later with the water gauge on red and the radiator fan almost blasting me into space. Not another Land Rover head gasket surely!!!

In need of some cheering up I cracked on towards Sheepfield, noting a Barn Owl through the darkness at one of the boxes, before settling on top of the ridge to watch the daylight breakthrough. What greeted me was another 2 Barn Owls quartering the field, and after being joined by the 'chaps', a Peregrine flew from the golf course across towards Brandon Wood. Two early rising Buzzard and a single Kestrel, plus some of Bob's dreadful jokes before moving on.

A Muntjac briefly seen through the gloom in New Hare Covert, but just the normal species on view at the Wright Hide, Main Hide and Carlton Hide, which did have an unusually good number of Reed Bunting, 6 in total. Teal Pool Hide yeilded my first Bittern sighting of 2010, a single bird which sat patiently just in front of the reeds at the back of River Pool. Having enjoyed good views of the Bittern, who departed back into the reedbed as the nearby shooting range fired up on the stroke of 10am, we took in West Marsh and Horstail Glade. The Glade had a surprise for us with a wintering Chiffchaff seen low in the bramble.

After coffee and bacon sandwiches in the Nature Centre a good tour of the rest of the reserve with Derek, which took in the 'Tip' area and Farm Pool Reedbed, before a final walk back around Newlands and New Hare Covert. A patient 20 minutes in the Covert had Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Siskin, Redpoll and some ground feeding Redwing, looking for windfall.

Other notables of the day were Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare and Collared Dove, unusual to Brandon! Water Rail, Willow Tit, Coal Tit and Cetti's Warbler were also heard, so not a bad start to the year with a total of 51 species seen and 4 heard. A trip to the garage awaits tomorrow so lets hope it is a Happy New Year!!!

(Picture of a Brandon Bittern courtesy of Jeff Rankin)

Full Circle

My final visit to Brandon Marsh today before Christmas and an interesting one too! As you can imagine all the pools are currently frozen so reduced numbers in the way of wildfowl species.

I arrived at dawn on a stunning but bitterly cold morning and caught up with others from the 'Sunday Crew', who I found strategically located overlooking Sheepfield. Three Barn Owls had been spotted quartering before my arrival but I did manage good views of the one that remained. I was lucky enough to see a second later in the morning from the Carlton Hide, which was out of the box in daylight at around 10am. A single Snipe in flight and an estimated 400 Lapwing, also passing by, are worth a mention.

Other sighting of note were 4 Meadow Pipit which flew across Newlands Reedbed on my way through, 2 Water Rail near the sluice and a third which shot across the front of Main-Hide. After leaving the Carlton-Hide, en route for my Full-English breakfast, a flock of circa 30 Golden Plover overflew East Marsh as I passed by the Main-Hide.

After breakfast both JR and I had a good tour of the the 'Tip' area and Farm Pool Reedbed, with some interesting results! Firstly, an extremely light coloured Buzzard, calling from a nearby tree caught our attention, but after dreaming of Rough Legged etc it turned out to be Common, warmed us both up though! Moving on around the perimeter of Farm Pool a Red Legged Partridge took flight from the reedbed, quickly followed by a single Woodcock.

A very rare visitor to Brandon is Yellowhammer (pictured) and JR had one earlier near Newlands, probably the only confirmed sighting on the reserve since 2007! You can imagine our delight when a second bird was heard and briefly seen as we passed through the area near to the farm buildings. Finally, as we made our way back to the Visitor Centre, a second small flock of Golden Plover overflew in the opposite direction from the earlier flock, around another 30 birds, maybe the same flock as earlier?

Well things have come full circle for me at Brandon! I joined the Conservation Team a year ago this week and have experienced some memorable moments over the past 12 months, covered as part of this blog. I've also met some fantastic people around Brandon and wish them and my reader a very Merry Christmas!

Breakfast Surprise!

A bitterly cold visit to Brandon today but a nice bird count nonetheless and a breakfast surprise!

Having arrived just before first light my first notable of the day was a Barn Owl which entered the box near the Lafarge Works, just visible in the darkness. As I continued along the path towards Sheepfield, with others from the 'Sunday Club', a Woodcock flew over the top, a bird which seems to be getting more regularly seen on the reserve.

Passing Newlands Reedbed a short while later a second Barn Owl of the day flew East and dropped in near the outermost box. A visit to the Wright Hide and East Marsh Pool produced a single Barnacle Goose, 2 Wigeon, male and female Goldeneye, a half dozen Pochard and an eventual count of 10 Snipe, which were all on Wigeon Bank.

After Carlton Hide, where our earlier Barn Owl had left the outer box to quarter the reed bed for a daylight hunt, we paid a brief and fruitless visit to West Marsh before a Full-English breakfast in the Nature Centre. While tucking into said breakfast, this time accompanied by the wife and others from the Conservation Team, a breakfast surprise on the Nature Centre feeders as a lone Brambling appeared, only my second sighting at Brandon this year. This was indeed birding in comfort as further observations over a second Latte produced Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Coal Tit.

After breakfast a final walk across the 'Tip' area of the reserve produced Green Woodpecker, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Fieldfare and Redwing, now taken to foraging in the undergrowth for wind-fall as the berry yield has almost expired.

Spectacular

A little breather from blogging over the past 10 days due to other commitments, but I'm back with a spectacular site at Brandon today!

Firstly though I can report another personal siting of Bittern from the West Marsh Hide last Sunday 6th, the first I think I've actually seen on the West side. Also of note and well worth a mention were 2 Otters seen by one of our other Conservation Team members from the same hide last Thursday 3rd, a very rare site and excellent news for the reserve.

Back to today's excitement in the form of a Peregrine Falcon (library Picture). I've seen Peregrine on many occasions but today's was only the 3rd I've recorded at Brandon. However, I'd never seen one take prey until today. As I prepared to take the track across Newlands Reedbed towards today's works location I glanced across East Marsh Pool and noticed everything up and in flight. That normally means one thing and I immediately began my search for the reason, more often than not a Sparrowhawk. Today was an exception and as I watched the 100 or so Lapwing rising ever higher and higher my attention was drawn to the Rapter circling the flock. Just as I located what I immediately recognised as a Peregrine the bird swooped with astonishing speed smashing straight into a Lapwing, feathers flying everywhere. Within seconds the bird had it's prey under control and headed East across the marsh for breakfast, one the most spectacular sites I've encountered thus far at Brandon.

After today's high I must end my post with the sad news regarding the death of one of Brandon's own, Ted Jury at the age of 70. Ted was one of the founder members of the Brandon Marsh Voluntary Conservation Team in 1985, and since 1992 was one of the editors of the Brandon Marsh annual report. I met Ted almost a year ago when first joining the team and spent many hours in the hides at Brandon enjoying his company. I will miss him greatly, god bless Ted.

Ted Jury 1939 - 2009

Bitterns Everywhere!

A beautiful crisp start this morning at the marina but not enough to freeze over the canal. As I left for Brandon, still in darkness, an eerie moon just setting in the West, I heard several calls from the local Tawny Owls as I made my way down the frosty path. (very poetic!!)

I arrived at Brandon, fully dressed in my thermals, for the second of two Tuesday work party's just before 7am.
With phase 3 of the Newlands reed bed extension unofficially underway we're making steady progress in the cutting back of Willow and Birch in preparation. I say unofficial as the main funding for the project is still to be put in place, but the volunteers need no such encouragement to crack on!

Now that the Autumn migration is complete and the first day of Winter has arrived I guess we can expect a quieter time at Brandon until Spring. Mind you having said that, there continues to be a glut of Bittern sightings on the reserve, including a sighting of 2 birds together today on West Marsh. I personally believe that there are at least 3 birds currently on site. In addition to today's sightings two birds were also sighted together on Newlands on Sunday morning, followed closely by a third on West Marsh a short time later. Of course I missed all three, despite arriving at the crack of dawn for an hour long vigil in the West Marsh hide. Can't complain though as my Bittern sightings ratio remains healthy.

Back to this morning and the unexpected sight of a single Woodcock in flight just before dawn, a great time to see one, unmistakable in silhouette as the bird flew back and forth across Grebe Pool, obviously looking for a good day roost spot. Excellent numbers of Greylag and Canada Geese early on, plus 4 Herring Gull and 17 Lesser Black Backed in among the many Black Headed. Other notable's were 2 Little Grebe on East Marsh and 3 Goldeneye, 2 female and a stunning male (pictured) over in the deep water. Still plenty of Fieldfare and Redwing about, although the berry numbers are depleting rapidly and also several Redpoll and Siskin in flight. A couple of Treecreeper and 2 Coal Tit at the Nature Centre also boosted my numbers for the day!