Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Brandon Marsh Reserve

29th March 2008

 

We arrived at the reserve at about 09.45. We booked in and walked through the sales area to the Tea Room from where the feeding station could be seen. There were many birds feeding, mostly Great and Blue Tits, Chaffinches and Greenfinches. The most exciting, however, were the many Reed Buntings, both male and female. It is most unusual to see this bird so close

We made our way on to the Reserve. At the first lake we saw our first migrants, Sand and House Martins. A Grey Wagtail was also flitting about.

We continued on our walk, Treecreeper, Goldcrest and a pair of Bullfinch were seen and a Chiffchaff was calling. Two Cetti’s Warblers were singing from deep cover. On the golf course which runs adjacent to the reserve there were Canada and Greylag Geese with a single Barnacle Goose.

On the second lake we came to there were islands upon which there were Lapwings, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Redshank plus Ten Snipe. It started to rain, but luckily there was a hide a few yards away. The shower did not last long.

After lunch we continued around the reserve. The waders were still on the islands, and the Martins were constantly flying up the lake into the wind.

Part of the reserve was flooded so we were unable to explore to that area.

Later on both Mistle & Song Thrush were seen. A Buzzard flew over.

Brandon Marsh is a compact reserve with quite easy walking although wet in places. The food in the Tea Room is very good, the cakes mostly home-made and all the staff were extremely friendly.

 

Dave Jones