Everyone has got use to seeing the Little Egret around the reserve over the last few years as their population has extended from southern Europe across the UK. However, they are not the only Egret that are on the move Cattle Egrets have now become a regular sight along the south coast and are slowly moving northwards with more counties having them breed. How long will it be before they are recorded regularly north of the border. But any other egret has now reached the Crook, the Great White Egret. Having been observed over the last couple of winters a bird has now turned up in the middle of summer. Is this the first sights that they may breed before long? As Large as a Grey Heron they are about three times the size of the Little Egret and form an impressive site on the Lagoons around the Reserve.
Great White Egret
The rest of the wildlife continues show off as the parent birds busily collect food for the young generation. Many of these birds have left the nest but are unable to fly so be careful to say to the paths and keep you dogs on a lead especially over the next few weeks as many species have young waiting to be fed in the grass. The boxes around the site also are full of life with Starlings, House and Tree Sparrows all using them. Watch carefully from a distance and you will see the parent birds bring in food for their growing young.
Rock Pipit carrying food with fledged young below
Starling returning with dinner
The reserve also provided excellent fishing and occasionally the Osprey may be observed catching fish to take back to the rapidly growing chicks.
Osprey
The swallows that were eagerly watching everyone at the office last week are now flying around exercising their wings ready for the long flight to their winter home in Africa.
The Plants are a blaze of colour now and providing a excellent source of nectar and pollen to the local invertebrates, check them out the next time you are down at the Crook or at your local reserve and see what you can find?
Ringlet
Common Red Soldier Beetle
Also the reserve is in the middle of the summer grazing and our cattle are hard at working at managing the saltmarsh
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon