1st June.
A cold strong SW wind was blowing for most of the day with intermittent sunshine and showers..
Swallows were hunting in the lea of trees in the hamlet, until the rain cleared later. A pair of Pied Wagtails were also hunting - coming back and forth with beaksfull of insects.
Swallows all lined up.
Pied Wagtail later on the same line.
2nd June.
A very wet and windy day with a strong SW wind, but cleared up towards evening. Swallows and Pied Wagtail were again active.
An evening walk (7 - 8.15pm) produced a Song Thrush in the arable field near the farm; 2 recently fledged Crows on branches overlooking farm pond; 3 Willow Warblers and a Sedge singing from different places along the hedgerows; a Goldfinch singing from the first bush on the RHS of the Lonning; 13 Mallard flying off from the 1st Meadow Pool and 7 Black-headed Gulls out on the wetland. Buttercups were looking fine in all the meadows.
Song Thrush in the arable field . . .
. . . and then subsequently flew into a holly bush overlooking the farm pond.
One of two young Crows recently fledged from the nest overlooking the farm pond . . .
. . . with the other sibling draped on top of the tree.
Young House Sparrow on car park in front of the Centre.
Willow Warbler singing from willow - 2nd Meadow Pool.
Mallard rising out of the rushes.
Goldfinch singing from the hedgerow.
Lonning looking very luxuriant.
Back at the Centre, a young Starling calling out to be fed.
3rd June.
Although still windy - a beautiful butterfly day. Orange-tip and Green-veined Whites were flying. Large Red Damselflies could be spotted - their wings shimmering in the sunshine, as they flitted along the Lonning.
A group of 22 Cormorants were visible out on the mudflats, well before high tide.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS
SB - Bullfinch on feeders.
RDC - Kestrel, 2+1 Buzzard.
Green-veined White on Cranesbill.
5th June.
Day started misty - but as the tide came in at 1.45pm the sun broke through making for a beautiful afternoon. Flying insects abounded on the saltmarsh and the Pied Wagtail was soon taking advantage of this bonanza. About every 10 minutes it would land on the lines in front of the hamlet with a beak full and then fly off in the direction of the farm buildings. At high tide, 14 Shelduck appeared on the tideline.
Early evening a Spotted Flycatcher could be seen in the hamlet, high up on a branch taking advantage of the evening sunlight.
Shelduck fronted by Sea Pinks and flowering Gorse.
Pied Wagtail with beakfull of insects.
Spotted Flycatcher in evening sunlight.
6th June.
South-westerly gale blowing. A small group of seven Barnacles were seen struggling west across the saltmarsh at high tide.
Rough seas at high tide.
Barnacles, blown about, as they struggle westward across the saltmarsh.
7th June.
A quieter day all together, with the sunshine all day. The buttercup meadows were looking splendid too!
The Lonning was full of birdsong at midday: 3 Willow Warblers, Sedges, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, a Chiffchaff and a Robin. Swallows, Meadow Pipits and a Sparrowhawk were evident over the wetland. A number of butterflies were on the wing: Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Peacock, and Small Tortoiseshell. A single Oystercatcher put in and appearance on the hide pool along with a fine pair of Mallards in the margins of the 1st Meadow Pool. Azures and Large Red damselflies could also be spotted, as their wings shimmered in the sunshine.
Buttercup meadow looking towards Criffell.
. . . they filled the wetland margins too.
Willow Warbler singing amongst willow catkins . . .
. . . and further along, another with a Wasp in its beak.
Female Large Red damselfly - on the Lonning track.
Male Azure Damselfly on track-edge vegetation.
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly on buttercup.
A rather worn looking Peacock on track.
Solitary Oystercatcher with Swallows flying low above.
Pair of Mallard looking resplendent in the sunshine.
Recently fledged Pied Wagtail.
8th June.
Lovely day - a lot warmer. The saltmarsh and environs were a picture, as the cattle happily grazed amongst the Sea Pinks with flowering May and Gorse lining the saltmarsh edge. Birds and butterflies were responding to the wamer conditions too. A good group of Shelduck and Mallard had formed up along a channel out on the mufdflats and three Black-tailed Godwits could be seen probing with their long beaks for invertebrae in the soft mud. Linnets and a Dunnock could be seen from the road, with a Cuckoo calling further along the marsh. Goldfinch, Great-spotted Woodpecker and a Tawny Owl were all active in the hamlet. A Wall and a Small Copper Butterfly were also flying today.
Dave came along the marsh on his round walk. In conversation, he indicated that he had seen a Spotted Flycatcher in the wood near Maryland farm about a fortnight ago. He had also heard a Cuckoo, too, further inland - perhaps the same one!
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS.
S.Colgate - chlorocibona aeruginascens , Green Elf Fungus (ex. chlorosplenium)
No Name - Pair of Bullfinches.
Sea Pinks (Thrift), Gorse and May in flower, alongside grazing cattle on the saltmarsh.
Three Black-tailed Godwits on the mudflats as the tide ebbs.
Female Linnet on gorse spike.
Shelduck and Mallard out on the mudflats.
Dunnock picking about on the roadside.
Wall Butterfly on the marsh edge.
Goldfinch in the hamlet.
Newly fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Male and juvenile together.
9th June.
Although cool overnight, the day turned out bright and sunny. Early morning, a Tawny Owl was seen sitting high up in a damson tree in the hamlet. It was later seen flying about and perching on different trees for most of the day. Didn't actually see it catch anything but it was quite mobile and was obviously hunting.
John observed at least 164 Shelduck out on the estuary (numbers are building up) and watched Gulls right out in the water, periodically splashing down into it, as the tide came in. Looked as if they were feeding on small fry or shrimps brought in by the tide.
John Ireland - Osprey SW corner towards Anthorn.
No name - Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Buzzard, Curlew, Chaffinch and more.
D B -Spotted Flycatcher in Discovery Field.
DL - Spotted Flycatcher front entrance gate, Sedge Warbler.
Tawny Owl with a good viewpoint.
Sitting in one of the damson trees in the hamlet, on and off for most of the day. It was still there as the sun was setting.