What a week we've had to end May! The warm sunny weather along with the arrival of four spoonbills last Tuesday left some visitors wondering whether they were beside the Mediterranean rather than the Dee.
We'd been getting fairly excited by a single, elusive spoonbill on Burton Marsh for a few weeks, so imagine our amazement when the awesome foursome were first seen in the Marsh Covert treetops close to where the little egrets and herons nest.
Along with the scores of avocets, now with over 70 chicks of varying ages, there was a real continental feel to the reserve heading into the bank holiday weekend. Just as we were getting used to our striking new residents, a fifth bird arrived on Sunday afternoon, and along with the other four spent some time feeding on the scrape, with fantastic views from the Reception Hide.
When Site Manager, Colin arrived early on Monday to find SIX spoonbills feeding on the scrape, we really thought he was dreaming. This equalled the record for spoonbills on the Dee, set way back in 1998.
Spoonbills by Barry Barnacal
The fantastic photo above shows an angry adult avocet fearlessly fending off the spoonbills for straying too close to its brood, to add to the strains of defending their young from lurking black-headed gulls, crows and herons.
Other highlights around the scrape have been the odd yellow wagtail along with the occasional redshank brood emerging from the rushes. Elsewhere, before even leaving the car park visitors have been admiring the frenzied feeding and nest-building behaviour of the pair of spotted flycatchers nesting in a nearby tree. A great spotted woodpecker was seen feeding its recently fledged youngster today, in trees between the car park and Reception Hide.
Spotted flycatcher by John Hewitt
The south-east end of the Burton Mere trail remains a good place to look for hobby, currently taking advantage of the plentiful swifts. At least three Cetti's warblers have been heard dotted along the trails between the reedbed and Inner Marsh Farm hide.
Up on Burton Point, a pair of linnet and a green woodpecker were highlights today, whilst a male garganey and a mute swan family were offering great views from the Bridge Screen.
The recent warm weather has seen the emergence of lots of butterflies, with orange tips, peacocks and large whites the most prevalent at the moment. Red-eyed damselflies are beginning to perch on the lily pads on Burton Mere, whilst the common lizards are in their usual basking spots on the fence rails at the beginning of the Reedbed trail.
If you didn't get down to the reserve over the bank holiday weekend to see the spoonbills, you'll be pleased to hear there are still three around. Will we see any more? How long will they stick around? What's the correct collective noun for a group of spoonbills?! Watch this space...!