Recent sightings
All the usual warblers can still be heard, and seen with patience, including the lesser whitethroat family around the wet woodland on the Inner Marsh Farm trail. Around the Main Scrape, avocet chick numbers peaked at 48 this week, with only a low level of predation from kestrel particularly. Mediterranean gulls are still present amongst the black-headed gulls.
One cattle egret, in full breeding plumage, enjoyed the wet grassland to the east of the main scrape for a few days at the beginning of the week, and the drake pintail was still on Centenary Pool by Inner Marsh Farm hide.
A late cuckoo was heard on Wednesday, and on Friday a female redstart perched on the fence at the bottom of Burton Point field added to the draw of mistle thrushes and green woodpeckers in that area.
Green woodpecker by John Hewitt
Very close to being the week’s star bird was a male ruff in full breeding plumage on Saturday, whilst other wader highlights were one spotted redshank and one little ringed plover from Marsh Covert hide plus two dunlins from Inner Marsh Farm hide.
Nearer Reception Hide, the first tufted duck brood of the year hatched, and the single common tern took to diving spectacularly for fish in The Mere, as we’ve seen in previous years.
The continued warm weather meant plenty of excellent butterfly activity including the first painted lady returning from North Africa, plentiful common blues and several large skippers. Southern marsh orchids continue to add a wonderful splash of purple to the reserve, whilst the first handful of bee orchids flowered this week.
Star sighting
Has to be hobby; two were seen together on Wednesday, but generally we see one at a time. Most days this week one was sighted, including terrific views hunting swallows in front of Reedbed screen on Thursday.
Hobby by Jeff Cohen, taken here in 2013
Wardens' wanderings
Much the same as last week, with lots of grass mowing to keep the trails visitor-friendly, interspersed with the breeding bird surveys and predator monitoring. Last week’s comms troubleshooting proved successful; with a helping hand from our HQ IT department John and Graham were able to reinstall the radio link to repair comms to Reception Hide.
Get involved
Next Sunday is Father’s Day and we’re running our usual “Dad’s Go Free” offer, perfect for a family day out. Plus there’s still chance to book onto our “Orchids and Wildflowers” guided walk on Wednesday 20 June, to learn all about the rich floral diversity of Burton Mere Wetlands.