Brandon Marsh

[Geoff Haynes]

Hello, I am thinking of going to Brandon Marsh for the first time and i was wondering if there was a set opening time for Sundays ?
I am fairly new to birding and would like to take some photos any pointers for good spots or where should i go whilst there ?

Thanks very much, Geoff.

[Di Stone]

Hi Geoff

If you're a member of the trust you can usually open the barrier gate yourself and gain entry via the side gate otherwise I don't think they open until 10am on a Sunday.

I've often had kingfishers at the Carlton hide just before 7:30 but any of the hides can be good for photography with Water rail from the East Marsh hide.

Good luck :t:
Di

[draycotebirding]

Check out Jeff's site here http://www.brandonbirding.co.uk/index.asp

Regards

John

[jeff]

What Di and John said.

Carlton Hide is probably the best to view Kingfishers as there are a few perches set up for them to perch on and eat their perch :o)

[wmtlynx]

Had a great day today at Brandon Marsh, having spotted a record 40 species in one day that included Jack Snipe, Kestrel, Water Rail, Green and GS Woodpeckers, Greenshank and Sparrowhawk. Also heard a Nuthatch and Cetti's Warblers. On our route back via one of the nature trails we heard alarm calls from lots of birds along the river, at first thinking it was our prescence but soon noticing a dark animal moving along the bank.

At first glance we thought it was a cat, but waiting motionless for it to reappear a large ferret-type creature ran towards us, stared at us then scarpered. After looking in my books and online I am fairly certain this was a polecat. But on the edge of Coventry???? No pics I'm afraid - it didn't wait for the camera. Was very ferret-like in appearance, but much bigger , about the size of a domestic cat, with a face reminiscent of a small red panda.

What does everyone else think? Any ideas or similar stories, or am I going mad?

Steve

[Duck_Pond]

Mink?

[jeff]

Had a great day today at Brandon Marsh, having spotted a record 40 species in one day that included Jack Snipe, Kestrel, Water Rail, Green and GS Woodpeckers, Greenshank and Sparrowhawk. Also heard a Nuthatch and Cetti's Warblers. On our route back via one of the nature trails we heard alarm calls from lots of birds along the river, at first thinking it was our prescence but soon noticing a dark animal moving along the bank.

At first glance we thought it was a cat, but waiting motionless for it to reappear a large ferret-type creature ran towards us, stared at us then scarpered. After looking in my books and online I am fairly certain this was a polecat. But on the edge of Coventry???? No pics I'm afraid - it didn't wait for the camera. Was very ferret-like in appearance, but much bigger , about the size of a domestic cat, with a face reminiscent of a small red panda.

What does everyone else think? Any ideas or similar stories, or am I going mad?

Steve

Could be a polecat, I think I read somewhere the Midlands was a polecat stronghold. I think someone wrote a paper on genetics of polecats using road killed specimens found in Warwickshire.

Can't find the Brandon Annual Reports at the moment, but they'll be listing of the various sightings if they've been seen. Prob. not too many though as i think they're nocturnal.

[jeff]

In 2008 there were 5 reports of polecats, 4 of those were animals caught in the mink traps, they were released again unharmed.