The hot, humid conditions this morning suited the dragonflies and several species were seen. There was a Lesser Emperor in front of the Causeway benches, along with Emperors, Four-spotted Chasers and Black-tailed Skimmers. In the NE corner of the Slurry Lagoon a Broad-bodied Chaser was basking. Along the Boundary Hedge immature Ruddy Darters and a Brown Hawker were seen. PS.
Lesser Emperor
Broad-bodied Chaser
Ruddy Darter
This morning the first of the fledged Common Terns was seen over the Slurry Lagoon. Also seen there was an egg-laying Emperor Dragonfly, a Kingfisher and a Red-eared Terrapin (somebody’s unwanted pet). On the railway embankment were two Jays, and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the dead sycamore. PS.
This morning a Hobby was seen being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, over the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. There were two Lesser Whitethroats singing and Meadow Browns and Ringlets were flying. Also seen were Emperor Dragonflies and Black-tailed Skimmers, several Small Tortoiseshells, Red Admirals and a Brimstone. PS.
In the evening a Green Sandpiper was seen on the Eco-park. JMD.
This morning there were two male Cuckoos on the reserve. In the afternoon another male was in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. In the late afternoon a Bittern was driven by Black-headed Gulls into the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. Later it was seen again in the Deep Pit, but the gulls again drove it into the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. There were also several Hairy Dragonflies and Emperor Dragonflies on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning as we walked along the Lower Path four Jays sneaked into the canopy of the ash trees while a a Buzzard called overhead. There were several immature Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Tit in the bushes between the path and the railway line. Near to the signal box a Spotted Flycatcher was perched on the wires and then in the hawthorn bushes, and a Stoat ran across the path. By the river the Swallows’ alarm calls alerted us to a Hobby. PS.
A Little Egret was seen briefly on the Slurry Lagoon and several Roesel’s Bush-crickets were found on the Causeway. By the Small Gravel Pit an Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter were seen. PS.
Two Hobbies were seen displaying over the lagoons in the early afternoon. Two tern chicks have hatched on the platforms and an Emreror Dragonfly was seen on the Small Gravel Pit. RW. JMD.