This morning, during the Bird Count, a Purple Heron was seen flying over the site. It later appeared at Langford Lowfields. Also seen was a Sandwich Tern that spent a few minutes over the Common Tern rafts before continuing its journey north. A Hobby was seen over the Deep Pit and the Grasshopper Warbler was still singing on the Ecopark and there were good numbers seen of most of the other warbler species. Some dragonfly species were also seen, including several Hairy Dragonflies. PS.
In this morning’s sunshine several teneral Common Blue Damselflies were noted, as well as two mature specimens. A Large Red Damselfly was seen by the car park, a Four-spotted Chaser on the Butterfly Bank and a Hairy Dragonfly by the benches on the Causeway. PS.
This morning there were four species of damselfly and Hairy Dragonflies flying on the reserve as well as several species of butterfly including Green Hairstreak, Common Blue and Dingy Skipper. At about midday six Hobbies appeared and hawked insects high above the Small Gravel Pit. PS
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 two male and a female Cuckoo were present around the Slurry Lagoon, identified by their calls. Also seen were several Hairy Dragonflies and a Four-spotted Chaser. PS.
This morning a Cuckoo called briefly beside the Slurry Lagoon as a solitary Swift flew over. During the Warbler Walk, eight warbler species were heard and six Hobbies were seen hawking insects over the Large Gravel Pit. Around seven Hairy Dragonflies were seen, including two females egg-laying, one on the Slurry Lagoon and one on the Small Gravel Pit. Two female Green Hairstreaks were seen, also egg-laying. An Oystercatcher was on the Wader Scrape and a Little Ringed Plover was on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning a Cuckoo called from the Ash trees along the railway embankment. Two Shelduck were across the river on the flooded field and two Oystercatchers and four Lapwings were on the Wader Scrape. On the Deep Pit bank, opposite the junction box, up to five Green Hairstreaks were flying and by the Gravel Pits a teneral male Hairy Dragonfly was found. PS.
This afternoon there were three Whimbrel on one of the new islands on the Slurry Lagoon. A Hobby was seen and a Hairy Dragonfly was on the Small Gravel Pit. RW.
This morning a Great Reed Warbler was singing in the north-east corner of the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. It was keeping low and not seen but singing frequently. Also seen were a Redshank and an Oystercatcher and a very brief view of a Hairy Dragonfly. PS.
This morning a freshly emerged male Hairy Dragonfly was found on the sunny side of the Boundary Hedge, still holding its wings along its back. PS.
