Close, humid and perhaps even sultry. It was another toasty day in the Dearne Valley, with temperatures in excess of 30°C and very little breeze.
Here’s a summary of what was seen at Old Moor today…
Little egret were present on the Mere again today, though not quite as many as yesterday. This afternoon’s best count was seven on this part of the reserve. However, as many as sixty-two egrets were recorded leaving the Old Moor roost on July 21! Another record broken I think.
With the egrets were: five cormorant, two common sandpiper, two dunlin, one great crested grebe, a buzzard and an assortment of Canada geese, lapwing, little grebe and the last of the black-headed gull.
To my knowledge there was no sign on the Mere today of the recent Caspian gull. Nor was there any report of the yellow-legged gull. That’s not to say they won’t be back soon enough though.
From the Reedbed Screen, one of two very young moorhen chicks
It was the three terns that provided some of the best views on the Wader Scrape today though two could also be found on Wath Ings. If you are visiting this part of the reserve at the moment, look out for exchanges of fish from one bird to another as well as those spectacular dives of course.
Food! Now!
Finally, on Wath Ings today, along with the cormorant, tern and sedge warbler, watchers recorded two redshank and a sleeping wigeon. There were also some very close views of a pair of linnet who are regularly feeding from the roses in front of the hide.
A splendid male linnet from Ian Morris. Thanks Ian!
And with that, I’ll finish up for this evening. Just a quick reminder that the school holidays have begun and, as ever, Old Moor has a programme of activities designed for families and children. Tomorrow, for example, is ‘Moth Morning’ where the contents of the moth trap can be enjoyed by visitors to the reserve. For more information on this and other events, follow this link.
Until next time.