Bits and Bobs at Brandon Marsh.

Common Whitethroat

I have not visited Brandon Marsh for several months, so I thought I would drop by in the hope of a few year ticks. With the river still flooding, it was prudent to don the wellies which enabled me to get to the East Marsh and Carlton Hides. The water over the path in places was about a foot deep, which no doubt deterred the posh shoes and Leica brigade who were confined to the top part of the reserve!

My first Common Whitethroats of the year were soon ticked off in full song competing with the other Warblers - Sedge Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Garden Warbler. Careful negotiation of the flood waters soon had me at the Carlton Hide which had very little going on, other than Warblers flitting through the bushes, until, the sound of a Nightingale. The difficult part was locating it, but eventually it appered in the bushes to the left of the hide. A fantastic bird to see and hear and only my second in Warwickshire since my boyhood birding days of 45+ years ago! Whilst at the Carlton Hide, my first Cuckoo of the year was seen and heard, but soon faded away! The feral Barnacle Goose loafed around on the golf course.

Once again the weather was poor, and a brief period of brightness failed to encourage the birds out! A complete list of sightings can be seen at the end of this post.

Nightingale

Common Whitethroat

Pheasant

Great Crested Grebe

Magpie

Wren

I think this Wren fancied me as it displayed in front of me for several minutes! A message may be?

Barnacle Goose

Todays Sightings:

Great Crested Grebe; Cormorant; Grey Heron; Mute Swan; Canada Goose; Greylag Goose; Barnacle Goose; Mallard; Gadwall; Shoveler; Teal; Tufted Duck; Kestrel; Pheasant; Coot; Moorhen; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Black Headed Gull; LBB Gull; Common Tern; Stock Dove; Wood Pigeon; Cuckoo; Swift; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Sand Martin; Swallow; House Martin; Pied Wagtail; Dunnock; Wren; Robin; Nightingale; Blackbird; Song Thrush; Sedge Warbler; Cettis Warbler; Reed Warbler; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Common Whitethroat; Blackcap; Garden Warbler; Long Tailed Tit; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Starling; Jay; Magpie; Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Goldfinch; Bullfinch; Linnet; Reed Bunting.