Once again we had insufficient bookings to justify a coach for our May outing, but just nine of us decided to go along anyway on a 'shared car trip'.
Brandon Marsh is situated near Coventry and has been developed from sand and gravel pits on the last 20 years by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. They also have their headquarters there and have excellent visitor facilities, which have been improved and extended since our last visit five years ago.
The reserve covers 228 acres and is mostly wetland with pools, marsh and reedbeds, but there is also some grassland and woodland giving a good mixed habitat.
Whitethroat
Our visit started well with a Cuckoo being spotted in a tree overlooking the car park. These were seen (and of course heard) throughout the day. We spent the morning walking the main trail round the reserve seeing Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge and Reed Warblers. From the hides overlooking the pools we had good views of various wildfowl and waders and were able to watch the Common Terns using the nesting rafts which have been provided. We were delighted when, at one point, the call of the Cetti's Warbler was followed by a group of the birds hurtling out of the bushes and across the path right in front of us.
Rain at lunchtime saw us retreating to the cafe for hot soup, but it soon brightened up and we headed off again, this time seeing Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and a Green Woodpecker on the neighbouring fields and golf course. Then a small area of woodland gave us a Great Spotted Woodpecker, another Cuckoo and the now sadly seldom seen Bullfinch.
A visit to the hides on the far side of the reserve overlooking the main pool was most rewarding with Ringed, Little Ringed and Grey Plovers and also Gadwall and Garganey. From here we were lucky enough to see a Kingfisher fishing, although the young Tawny Owl we had been told about was keeping well out of sight in its nesthole!
Our day ended as well as it had begun when having seen over sixty species during our visit, a pair of Marsh Harriers flew over just as we were leaving for home.
Pauline Bailey