A male House Sparrow was seen this morning on the Lower Path, close to the river. This is a very rare sighting now at the lagoons. Also heard or seen were a Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker and Grasshopper Warbler along with four Brimstones, five Green Hairstreaks, ten Common Blues, four male Orange-tips, two Green-veined Whites, a Peacock, a Large White and a Latticed Heath. SC/PG.
Also seen this morning were three Hobbies, two Buzzards and a mass of gulls and terns catching flying ants. PS.
This morning a Bittern was seen flying from the Slurry Lagoon reed bed towards the south. Also there were two Grasshopper Warblers and several Whitethroats. Butterflies were about as well with Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Comma and good numbers of Peacocks, Tortoiseshells and Brimstones. PS.
This morning three Willow Warblers, a Whitethroat and two Sedge Warblers were singing as well as plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing as it passed through. At least four Water Rails were calling from the Slurry Lagoon reedbed and two Oystercatchers flew noisily over. Butterflies seen included Brimstone, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood. PS.
The first Common Blues of the season were seen this morning with twelve males being seen. Quite a relief after last year’s dismal showing. Also seen was a Small Copper, several Orange Tips and Small and Green-veined Whites, and a Small Tortoiseshell. PS.
Early this afternoon a Hobby was seen hawking butterflies around the Large Gravel Pit and a Whimbrel settled briefly on the Wader Scrape. RW.
There were also at least five Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper on the Wader Scrape and two Common Sandpipers and two Yellow Wagtails on the river bank. Twelve Peacocks, three Green-veined Whites, three Commas, three Small Tortoiseshells and two Brimstones were also seen. PS.
Also early afternoon four Yellow Wagtails were on the Wader Scrape. JMD.
A Garden Warbler was feeding and calling in bushes close to the Ouse Dyke bridge early afternoon. JMD.
A second Garden Warbler was singing and showing well by the riverside, and two Cuckoos were heard calling. The warm weather also tempted some butterflies out and 5 Brimstones, 11 Orange Tips and 8 Green-veined Whites were counted. PS.