The breeding season reached a peak in July with all of the gull and some of the tern chicks fledging from Ferry. Unfortunately on Moore the Lesser Black-backed Gulls picked off pretty much all of the chicks there which was sad to see. Overall though it has been a very good year for the Black-headed Gulls with many of the 600 pairs managing to fledge at least one young each. The fledglings loafed around the margins of Ferry for a week or two but by the month's end had already left for pastures new.
In rarity news the headline species of the month has been Glossy Ibis. Presumably the flock which has summered so far on the Ouse Washes moved upstream and became a regular presence in the daytime, with up to 12 birds reported at any one time. They appear to leave the site to roost in the evenings along with up to 10 Cattle Egrets. Occasionally the flock move over to Moore Lake so keep an out for them there too. Elsewhere on the reserve the following has been seen during July:
In other wildlife news a Marbled White butterfly was seen by Ferry on 11th and was the 3rd record for the reserve. Brown Argus and Essex Skipper butterflies have also been seen regularly between Holywell and the river. Lastly but not least, Stoats have regularly been entertaining visitors along the entrance road as they hunt Rabbits for their young.
Henry Cook Assistant Warden – Fen Drayton Lakes