In between showers this afternoon some corvids were soaring in the sky, trying to mob a Buzzard. As I watched a large swift-like bird came into view as a Hobby circled over the site. As I followed the Hobby three Swifts came into view beyond it. They were probably catching St Mark’s Flies which were flying in good numbers at the time.
Today, during the patchwatch, seventy seven species of birds were recorded, including a Swift, two House Martins, three Garden Warblers, eight Lesser Whitethroats and seven Grasshopper Warblers. PS.
A Ruff and a Redshank were on the Slurry Lagoon this morning. A Swift was seen passing through and there were still several warblers about including a Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler and several Chiffchaffs. PS.
There was plenty of movement today with about 120 House Martins through in the morning along with two Common Terns and three Swifts and two more Wigeon arrived with several Gadwall. PS.
A juvenile Ruff was seen on the Slurry Lagoon today and later a Hobby and a Peregrine were seen. RW.
Unfortunately most of the orchids were still not much more than buds, but there were plenty of other plants to see and some butterflies and damselflies were about. A Hobby gave spectacular views as it swooped over the Slurry Lagoon and Swifts were seen mating on the wing. A pair of Shoveler were also seen and a drake Wigeon was a surprise find. PS.
This morning an Osprey was seen flying through the site, along the river, persued by gulls. IB. Ten Garden Warblers were heard singing. PS.
In the early afternoon the female Marsh Harrier returned to the site and dropped into a reed bed. A Hobby was seen and about 200 Swifts went through. RW.
This morning a female Marsh Harrier was watched for nearly an hour as it hunted over the Slurry Lagoon. It very nearly caught a Moorhen, which had to dive repeatedly to escape and was saved in the end by an angry Coot. Several times the Harrier settled in the reed bed and was still there when I left. A Cuckoo sang from the Deep Pit posts and at least three Garden Warblers were also singing. (All ten breeding species of warbler can be heard.) On the river a Common Sandpiper and two Kingfishers were seen and possibly another two were heard and the tern rafts are occupied by up to ten terns. PS.
The Marsh Harrier was still present late morning, showing very much the same behaviour as earlier, and 25 Swifts were seen. In the early afternoon a Kittiwake flew through to the east and a Whimbrel to the north east and at least 120 Swifts passed through. RW.
This afternoon there were twelve Common Terns on the tern rafts. A flock of around fifty Swifts drifted high over the reserve and a Hobby alarmed the Swallows by the railway bridge, other raptors were two Buzzards, two Kestrels and two Sparrowhawks. There were several butterflies about, including Brimstone and Orange Tip and a Stoat was running up the Deep Pit bank, following a trail, its tail held high. PS.
Two Swifts were seen this morning, flying over the site, eight Common Terns were seen over the Deep Pit, some already in pairs and more Grasshopper Warblers have arrived, there are up to seven males present now and some females have arrived. PS.
This morning a Peregrine Falcon flew over and perched on the nearby electricity pylon for a few minutes before moving to the next pylon to the north-east. A Common Sandpiper flew round the Slurry Lagoon and a Little Ringed Plover was displaying over the Slurry.
In the early afternoon one Common Tern appeared on the newly recommissioned Tern Platforms. One Swift and two House Martins were seen and a Redstart was heard alarm calling. A Tawny Owl was observed in the willow tree. RW.
Later two Avocets settled on the Slurry Lagoon and a male Marsh Harrier flew through. PS. RW.