Finally, summer came. Just as the schools went back and the summer migrants were ready to go. But this good weather at least means there is plenty of insect food for the migrants to eat before they start their journeys south. Each morning the bushes have been full of chiffchaffs, with smaller numbers of blackcaps and lesser whitethroats. It's the time of year when anything can turn up - and on Monday (3rd), it did! A red-rumped swallow was found among a flock of migrating house martins by local birder Rob Hughes. This Mediterranean visitor is a rare bird in Wales, and this was the first sighting ever at RSPB Conwy. Sadly, the flock soon moved south and the red-rump wasn't seen again. Other migrants through this week include two wheatears (Friday 7th), swift (Tuesday 4th) and plenty of white wagtails daily. Up to 30 dunlins have been here each day, with greenshank and knot also spotted this week.
Not quite as scarce, but still rarely spotted was a nuthatch clinging to the top of a bare tree by the boardwalk this morning. We average one a year and this bird seemed to have got caught up in a mobile flock of tits and warblers. It looked a bit lost in a reedbed, and quickly flew towards the more comforting habitat of Benarth Woods across the river. Kingfisher has become an almost daily sight here this week (and two were seen together last weekend), so let's hope this marks a return to the reserve following a long period of absence. Also seen today was a water rail by the boardwalk, our first for a few weeks.
The fine weather is great for butterflies and dragonflies, with including southern hawkers (we love Dave Middleman's photo, on our Flickr page), common darter and emperor dragonfly seen in the last few days. There have been plenty of red admirals and small tortoiseshells too. But in case there was any doubt that Autumn is round the corner, teal and wigeon numbers have been building, and there's been a pintail here this week.
Julian HughesSite Manager, Conwy