Top ten birds
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Spoonbill
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Black Tailed Godwit
Ruff
Snipe
RSPB St Aidans in high summer is a quiet place. The flocks of noisy Black Headed Gulls have left, leaving only the calls of the bigger gulls, Herring Gulls and Lesser Black Backs. With the reeds at full height showing their beautiful dark red feathery flowers, the site is very peaceful.
Some of the favourite birds of RSPB St Aidans have also left: the Swifts appear to have left for their long migration to Africa, the Black Necked Grebes have gone, although there is not a great deal of understanding of where they go; the warblers will be leaving soon and are mostly silent now. Swallows and Martins are still seen, feeding enthusiastically, preparing for their migration starting later in the season.
Little Egrets and Great White Egrets are a highlight of RSPB St Aidans. Their elegant, bright white forms are seen wading through the shallow waters, as they hunt for fish and amphibians. The Little Egret, once a rare visitor to Britain, has become a more common sight in recent years, a testament to the changing dynamics of bird populations and responses to climate change. Great Egrets are a striking sight with its large size and extremely long, thin neck. It is fascinating to watch this confident bird feeding.
Common terns are a fascinating species seen daily at the nature park during July and early August. These sleek, medium-sized birds are known for their agile flight and distinctive black cap, white body, and forked tail and their sharp calls. RSPB St Aidans provides an ideal habitat with its mix of open water, islands, and wetlands, which are perfect for nesting and feeding. They will be leaving soon on their spectacular migration to Africa.
In the middle of August, sightings of a Caspian Tern, have been a rare and exciting event for local bird watchers. The Caspian Tern is the largest tern species in the world. It is a striking bird, notable for its large size, heavy red bill and distinctive black cap. Many photographs have been lucky to get pictures of this bird resting on the reserve islands and flying daily between RSPB St Aidans and Eccup reservoir.
There may be some confusion during late July/August in identifying common ducks on the reserve. Many ducks undergo a moult during this time lose their flight feathers for a month. Whilst they are unable to fly, the need to blend into their environment, and keep as low a profile as possible. The ducks are known to be in ‘eclipse plumage’ during this time. It is particularly noticeable in male ducks which lose their bright plumage.
During August, the reserve is attracting a number of waders, so look out for, Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwits, Ruff and Ringed Plovers. Significant numbers of Snipe have also been noticed enjoying feeding in the mud, now the water levels have fallen.
RSPB St Aidans is always worth a visit, at any time of the year. It is a beautiful location, particularly known for its diverse habitats, including wetlands, meadows and grasslands. The summer months bring many different areas of interest for the naturalist. For example, on a warm summer day, dragon flies seem to be everywhere, there are many different species of butterfly to observe and the wild flowers along the path verges add vibrant colours to the landscape.
We love to hear what you've seen at our reserves! So don't forget to tag us in your photos and videos from your next visit.
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Written by: H. Bladdon
Images: A. Sharp, L. Carter