It's been a while since the last update, so we are well overdue a blog! Firstly, we are pleased to announce that the reserve is now open, so come along and visit us and let us know what wildlife you see!
The breeding season is well underway over at Beckingham and the lapwings seem to be doing well. We haven't been able to complete fukll breeding wader surveys this year unfortunately, however anecdotal evidence suggests good numbers of pairs breeding and several chicks already fledged. There were a further 11 chicks feeding together on a wet patch of mud last week and more hidden in the longer vegetation, as the adults chased of crows.
Ian Francis (rspb-images.com)
The redshank also seem to be having a good year, with up to 12 birds seen at once on the wet grassland fields. This is a reserve record by a long way!
The tree sparrows are also doing well, with good numbers seen in the hedgerows around the site.
Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
The dry weather has dried the scrapes out quite a bit, so hopefully the lapwing chicks will fledge before they dry out completely, but the recent rainfall will have helped. Other than being a bit dry, the habitat looks brilliant, ideal conditions for our breeding waders.