Leading on from my first visit of the year to Brandon Marsh on Tuesday a reasonably quiet week followed, with the exception of a great find at Brandon on Wednesday!
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| Another Caspian Gull at Brandon Marsh ~ Photo by Alan Boddington |
Wednesday 4th... I just happened to be approaching the Wolston roundabout along the A45, only a few miles from Brandon Marsh, on route to Liverpool when I received a phone call from Jim Timms, handsfree I hasten to add! A very excited Jim had found a
Yellow-browed Warbler at Brandon along the central marsh path. Although I was running late it was too good to miss. I arrived in due course to find Jim and a few other lucky observers watching the bird in question. When first discovered Jim had actually been only a few yards away from it, feeding it would seem in what remains of the small area of hops that grow alongside this stretch of path each year. A great find for Brandon and in fact a reserve first, so well done Jim.
Disappointingly for me, the bird didn't hang around for too long and I personally only managed the briefest of views high in the alder, thanks to Denis Woodward. So I guess that without being able to distinguish any features like wing bars or prominent supercilium while observing the bird I can't really add this little gem to my personal Brandon list π
Another excellent find on the day well worth a mention was Alan Boddingtons
Caspian Gull on East marsh pool, photographed above!
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| Goldcrest ~ Always require further scrutiny! |
Thursday 5th... pre-dawn was spent with a few of the Brandon team trying to relocate the
Yellow-browed Warbler in -5/6C but despite no sign of the target bird the many
Lesser Redpoll and
Siskin, plus the odd
Goldcrest offered plenty of entertainment! From here it was chainsaw in hand and onto farm pool reedbed for more willow clearing, completing an excellent 5 hour session alongside a dozen other volunteers. After tea in the nature centre a few of us drove to Paget's Lane, Bubbenhall for a go at the reported juvenile
Glaucous Gull. Thousands of gulls here on this newly acquired Warwickshire Wildlife Trust site, already controversial it would seem, but once again no sign of the target bird.
Friday 6th... late morning and early afternoon was spent with Bob Lee at Brandon Marsh and although a quiet visit birding wise highlights included
Yellow-legged Gull and lots more
Lesser Redpoll and
Siskin to trawl through!
