A rural scene across the Buttercup meadows..
As the warm weather continued, although with some rainfall, young birds and butterflies were very much in evidence on the Reserve.
Young Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches, Blue; Great and Coal Tits were numerous. Greenfinch (3 juvs), Bullfinch(3 juvs), Robins, Blackbirds and Wrens all managed to raise broods. A newly fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker appeared on 17th. The warmer weather had helped rearing substantially.
12th - Willow Warbler hunting for insects along the Lonning hedgerow.
12th - Pied Wagtail on Workshop roof.
13th - Young Coal Tit.
14th - Young Greenfinch waiting to be fed.
15th - A weary Robin on a hot day.
16th - Great Spotted Woodpecker on now drying out pools (Old flooded peat workings).
16th - A Skylark amongst Cottongrass on the Moss.
16th - Skylark flying over Bog Myrtle.
16th - Whitethroat catching flies along the Red Route.
17th - Young Magpie calling out for food.
17th - Newly fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker with Mum.
20th - Male Bullfinch . . .
. . . and rather wet female.
21st - Grey heron fishing on hide pool.
24th - recently fledged Blackbird . . .
. . . being fed.
24th - newly fledged Bullfinch waiting to be fed.
26th - Great Spotted Woodpecker after a rather damp day . . .
. . . still dependent on being fed by Adult.
27th - Juvenile and female Great Spotted Woodpecker.
27th - Young Magpie finds a grub.
27th - Male Bullfinch . . .
. . . and three offspring.Large Skipper, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown and latterly, Ringlet Butterflies were all to be seen. A Painted Lady was seen on the track near the flooded old Peat workings (17th) and again on the Lonning track on 18th and 24th (RDC). Large Red, Azure, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies could regularly be seen on a range of vegetation along the various routes.
12th - Large Skipper.
16th - Green-veined White Butterfly..
16th - Painted Lady butterfly on track near flooded old peat diggings . . .
. . . and well camouflaged against the dead vegetation.
. . . and a few days later(18th) on Lonning track.
20th - Meadow Brown.
12th - Blue-tailed Damselflies in classic 'wheel' position.
18th - Large Red Damselfly on farm pond vegetation.
8th - male Azure Damselfly .
18th - Male Blue-tailed Damselfly on hide pond .
On the estuary a good collection of Gulls and Oystercatchers (counted 3,000+) were appearing, well out on the tideline. High tide roosts on the saltmarsh included Herring and Black-backed Gulls with a few Golden Plover in summer plumage. Shelduck, Mallard, Cormorants, Little Egret, and Grey Heron were regularly in evidence.
17th - Cormorant and Shelduck with Herring Gull flock.
21st - Herring Gulls being pushed in by the tide . . .
. . . and immatures lifting off.
21st - Juvenile Herring Gull in flight.
21st - Black-headed Gulls waiting for tide to turn.
21st - Little Egret flying west along the tideline.
27th - Groups of Herring Gulls and juveniles still frequenting the foreshore at high tide.
27th - group of Mallard in flight, Scargavel Point.
27th - Knot on the incoming tide.
30th - Summer BBQ. A well earned treat for the Campfield Volunteers.