The path to the new spoonbill viewing area is well trodden and with good reason, a maximum of six spoonbills have been reported over the past two weeks. The big news is that the breeding pair, who can be seen clearly from the viewing area, are now the proud parents of three chicks. If you are lucky enough to be able to watch the nest using a scope then on occasions you can just see the heads of the chicks or a flexing of wings as they move around. Catching a glimpse of that tiny yellow bill on one of the chicks melts your heart.
Spoonbills with chick - Pete M
There are also two juvenile spoonbills seen frequently gliding effortlessly around the moat area, one has black wing tips (2nd calendar year bird) and the other has slight browning to the wing tips (3rd calendar year bird) . That leaves an adult who is seen frequently and a possible mate sitting on eggs out of sight in the midst of the heronry; imagine 6 teaspoons that would be truly awesome.
The new viewing area is clearly signposted just past the visiting centre from the discovery trail.
Coal Tips
The female bittern is seen frequently on feeding flights, if you have never seen a bittern now is the time to sit on a bench and wait patiently for her return. Good views can be had with the naked eye, and truly memorable views can be seen with binoculars.
Bittern - Keith Boyer
As if breeding spoonbills and bitterns wasn’t enough, we now have a pair of breeding black-necked grebes with chicks also. They were first seen on the 11th June and occasionally since, preferring the safe haven of the reed beds from which to raise their young.
A pair of common terns have also bred on one of the rafts amongst the black-headed gulls; they currently have a single chick to tend to.
Two cuckoos have been seen flying around, one a female with rufous brown plumage. It’s believed that the same female has been present on the reserve for the last three years.
Cuckoo - Pete M
Other sightings have been of three bearded tits on the 8th June and peregrine overhead on the same date. A little ringed plover was present and a green sandpiper was seen briefly before heading north-east on the 15th June.
Main Bay / Village Bay
Waders that have passed through recently are dunlin and little ringed plover, both seen on the islands in main bay. Both avocets and shelduck are raising young but the most noticeable occupant on main bay at the moment are pochard. Pochard have been in decline over recent years but over the reserve they have produced sixty young which is very encouraging.
Pochard - Pete M
A teal was noted on village bay on the 8th June, two oystercatchers were also seen with young on the island. Meanwhile on cut lane a willow tit was seen with young and a cetti’s warbler was also heard.
Flashes
The flashes continues to be relatively quiet, the most notable sighting was that of an adult gannet heading east over the moat on 6th June. Up to two hobbys have been seen dashing through the air hunting for dragonflies. Four oystercatchers have been seen as well as water rail, kingfisher and whooper swan. Little egrets have crept under the radar in the heronry, letting the spoonbills take the limelight while they getting on with raising their young.
Pick up hide and visitor centre
Two water rails have been seen from the hide as well as a stonechat and willow tit on the feeders. A nuthatch has also been seen regularly on the feeders at the visitor centre.
Other
Butterflies that have been noted around the reserve are speckled wood, brown argus, large white, large skipper, green veined white, common blue, brimstone, small copper, small white, meadow brown and purple hairstreak.
Brown Argus - Pete M
Dragonflies recorded so far have been emperor, four-spotted chaser, black-tailed skimmer and broad bodied chaser.
Damselflies recorded so far have been blue-tailed damselfly, large red damselfly, azure damselfly, common blue and banded demoiselle.
An interesting spider seen on a fence post on red shale road was a female green orb spider. Only 6mm long but a luminous green back makes it stand out on darker backgrounds
Green orb spider - Pete M
Keep an eye out for orchids, especially on the riverbank trail. Noted so far have been northern marsh orchid and bee orchid.
Bee orchid - Pete M
Bumblebees that have been seen arround the reserve are tree bumblebee, common carder bee, early bumblebee, large earth bumblebee and stone bumblebee