Brandon Marsh, near Coventry 2
It's hard to believe that almost 15 months have passed since my first visit to Brandon Marsh. It was the day after the birth of my nephew, Nathan, I struggled with a hangover in the heat, taking very shaky photo's and feeling sorry for myself!!
I've just returned from the West Midlands for Nathan's Christening. I'm happy to report that he is now a wriggling, giggling, non-stop baby machine only content with ripping off Uncle Alan's glasses and trying to poke me in the eye with them - all I wanted was a cuddle
The following day, Monday 9th August, I made the 25 minute bus journey from my parents home to the edge of Coventry, then a 30 minute walk along Brandon Lane to the reserve.
It was a gloriously hot day with just the right amount of breeze, having travelled from Lancashire I was relieved it was no longer raining.
My first stop was the John Baldwin and the Wright Hides overlooking the East Marsh Pools. There was the usual suspects at this time of year - Mallards, Coots, Canada and Greylag geese and Lapwing etc. On the two man-made rafts were three Common Tern which I enjoyed watching fishing for a while.
Next I went to the Teal Pool Hide which was over-run with Mallard! I sat for a while to check if anything else was about and saw Moorhen, a few Grey Herons and Black-headed Gulls. A very distant wader was being harrassed by a Moorhen and I was delighted to find it was a Green Sandpiper. On the distant reed beds I could just about make out a Reed Warbler as it flitted between the reeds.
I then moved along to the Carlton Hide and was rewarded with a 2nd Green Sandpiper that was almost in front of the hide, much closer than the 1st bird. It bobbed about, feeding quite happily near some Lapwings and 3 Grey Herons.
I then made a visit to the River Pool and Steetley Hides, but nothing of note was seen from here.
If anyone is interested/planning a visit or just wants to know what I'm talking about, here's a link to a map of the reserve followed by a link to the 'unofficial' web site.
http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/MapOfReserve.htm
http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/index.asp
I had a well earned rest in the visitors centre, next to a concrete slab with David Attenborough's footprints and signature embedded in it to commemorate his opening the reserve in 1992, and then made the arduous walk back into Coventry and the bus home.
Sightings for the day were:
Great tit
Blue tit
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Robin
Coot
Moorhen
Mallard
Canada geese
Greylag geese
Mute Swan
Grey Heron
Lapwing
Reed Warbler
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted ducks
Jay
BH Gull
LBB Gull
Common Tern
Green Sandpiper
I've just returned from the West Midlands for Nathan's Christening. I'm happy to report that he is now a wriggling, giggling, non-stop baby machine only content with ripping off Uncle Alan's glasses and trying to poke me in the eye with them - all I wanted was a cuddle
The following day, Monday 9th August, I made the 25 minute bus journey from my parents home to the edge of Coventry, then a 30 minute walk along Brandon Lane to the reserve.
It was a gloriously hot day with just the right amount of breeze, having travelled from Lancashire I was relieved it was no longer raining.
My first stop was the John Baldwin and the Wright Hides overlooking the East Marsh Pools. There was the usual suspects at this time of year - Mallards, Coots, Canada and Greylag geese and Lapwing etc. On the two man-made rafts were three Common Tern which I enjoyed watching fishing for a while.
Next I went to the Teal Pool Hide which was over-run with Mallard! I sat for a while to check if anything else was about and saw Moorhen, a few Grey Herons and Black-headed Gulls. A very distant wader was being harrassed by a Moorhen and I was delighted to find it was a Green Sandpiper. On the distant reed beds I could just about make out a Reed Warbler as it flitted between the reeds.
I then moved along to the Carlton Hide and was rewarded with a 2nd Green Sandpiper that was almost in front of the hide, much closer than the 1st bird. It bobbed about, feeding quite happily near some Lapwings and 3 Grey Herons.
I then made a visit to the River Pool and Steetley Hides, but nothing of note was seen from here.
If anyone is interested/planning a visit or just wants to know what I'm talking about, here's a link to a map of the reserve followed by a link to the 'unofficial' web site.
http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/MapOfReserve.htm
http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/index.asp
I had a well earned rest in the visitors centre, next to a concrete slab with David Attenborough's footprints and signature embedded in it to commemorate his opening the reserve in 1992, and then made the arduous walk back into Coventry and the bus home.
Sightings for the day were:
Great tit
Blue tit
Blackbird
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Robin
Coot
Moorhen
Mallard
Canada geese
Greylag geese
Mute Swan
Grey Heron
Lapwing
Reed Warbler
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted ducks
Jay
BH Gull
LBB Gull
Common Tern
Green Sandpiper
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Nice to read of your return to the Midlands Alan and i'm glad that you left the rain behind up North.......I remember reading of your last visit on the birth of your nephew......how time flies eh!
A super series of shots too,I like the reflective Green Sandpiper especially!Posted 12-08-10 at 02:04 PM by Twitcheruth
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Thanks Ruth,
Scary where the time goes isn't it - it wont be long before he's tapping me for a pint
The Green sandpiper was the main event on this visit. I was delighted to see it, let alone two! Brandon is on my 'must do' list when I go home, especially since I worked out the bus route!Posted 12-08-10 at 02:35 PM by alanjns
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Quote:Originally Posted by alanjns
Thanks Ruth,
Scary where the time goes isn't it - it wont be long before he's tapping me for a pint
The Green sandpiper was the main event on this visit. I was delighted to see it, let alone two! Brandon is on my 'must do' list when I go home, especially since I worked out the bus route!
I know how you feel about time.....my Grandson will be 3 after xmas and another on the way before that.....i'm getting old!!
Green Sandpipers are always a delight.....any Sandpiper is for me....I love them all.....there's nowt like hearing a Sandpiper on the bleak moors or seeing one fly low up a highland stream....just grand!!Posted 12-08-10 at 03:42 PM by Twitcheruth
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Snap Ruth - I've also got 2½ year old and 9 month old Great Nephews.
Never mind eh, at least when we're birding with zimmer frames we can hang our scopes and flasks on itPosted 12-08-10 at 03:54 PM by alanjns
