Apologies to anyone who has checked the blog this year and has been disappointed that my last post was about a bittern on 7th December - I've simply been too busy to write anything.
The main news for this breeding season is that lapwings have nested on the reserve for the first time. We cut several acres of reeds and rushes last winter prior to introducing cattle to part of the reedbed/fen (to be the subject of another post shortly), and kept the water level up to create some shallow pools and muddy margins. Three pairs of lapwings nested on the adjacent farmland in March, and when two pairs lost their eggs they came and had a look at the reserve. One pair decided to stay, and their eggs duly hatched in mid May. As I write this, I am not sure if any of the chicks have survived - I saw one a few days ago, by which time it was more than three weeks old, but it was often concealed by the plants at the edge of the mere. I hope at least one can fledge...