It was another breathlessly hot one in the Dearne Valley today with temperatures around 30°C and very little breeze. To start us off, here’s a summary of the birds seen around Old Moor today…
If you’ve glanced at the graphic above and done the adding, you’ve probably noticed that there were a lot of little egrets in today’s sightings. In fact, every hide I visited gave great views of these terrific little herons.
Always great to watch these lively little hunters, it is strange to think that the little egret only returned to breeding in the UK in 1996 (seems like only yesterday!) Back then, if you were watching a little egret on these shores, you were seeing a rarity!
Mind you, it’s even more sobering to realise that little egrets were probably common in Britain’s distant past - they are listed on old banquet menus - and were almost certainly hunted to extinction.
So, with seventy-one little egret counted as leaving the roost at Old Moor ten days ago, they are yet another success story for the Dearne Valley!
An egret rising above Wath Ings
Along with the egrets, two black-tailed godwit probed their way around Wath Ings today and were enjoyed by many visitors to the hide.
A black-tailed godwit between mouthfuls
Speaking with visitors to Old Moor today, most mentioned seeing the acrobatic flights of the common tern. Very mobile at the moment, the terns can be seen around the Mere, the Scrape or Wath Ings. Sadly, when I got to Old Moor, it was tern ‘siesta time’ and, apart from the odd shriek, most of the birds seemed quiet, taking a rest from dive-bombing small fish!
A tern taking a breather in front of the Family Hide this afternoon
I’ll finish up tonight with one last picture from the day. It might be tempting to think that the breeding season has finished for this year but a close look at the reedbed in front of the Bittern Hide could persuade you otherwise.
There the reed warblers are as busy as ever and can be seen frantically darting about collecting beaks full of grubs and flies for their chicks.
Until next time.