Traditionally, this time of year is much quieter for bird life. Many birds have finished their breeding season after a frantic few months and are taking a well earned rest. A lot of birds will be moving into a season of moult - meaning their ability to fly is reduced so they may well choose to spend more time hidden away whilst they renew their plumage.
It's also generally hotter - the last 3 days have been particularly, so there may well be more activity at either end of the day when it is cooler. That's not to say there's nothing to see. Some birds are still feeding young - such as Marsh Harriers, although activity dies seem reduced. Some juveniles are being spotted, including 2 from the first viewing platform (VP1).
This female has been busy hunting this week from VP1 every day this week (suggesting she still has youngsters to feed), although does take the odd break in this bush:
Bitterns are still being spotted, so there must still be one or two active nests on the reserve. The Avalon Hide has been a good place to spot them lately but also from Tor View Hide this week, where a bird was perched in the reeds for a while. A second bird also flew over but neither showed any interest in each other:
Bitterns; All 3 shots by Robin Morrison
The Tor View Hide/Waltons has also been a top spot for Great Crested Grebes. A few pairs here, with varying sizes of chick but also a newly hatched brood (3 out of 4 eggs at the time of Robin's photo below):
Coots are also in the area and still nesting - it's a long season for some:
Other young birds can be seen across the site. Some juvenile Bearded Tits have been seen recently at Waltons but also the Avalon Hide. On Wednesday we were moving around the site and a small group of the was moving on ahead of us - visible at the back of the VP1 section. There seems to be an increase in the numbers of Mute Swan families. I think many started breeding quite late this year. This family group was in the main drain that runs through the centre of the reserve:
Along the main track visitors have seen young Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chaffinches. I saw a parent feeding a youngster sat on one of our wooden benches on the main path. Perhaps this very bird pictured by Robin Morrison:
This young Reed Bunting was also spotted around the Waltons trail yesterday - sitting out in the open, quite happily for several minutes - perhaps in needs to learn to take cover sometimes:
Some great news on our young Crane. My colleague Joe had put out a remote camera to see if we could capture some footage and confirm things are going well. It's taken a while but its good news. Both parents and a very well grown youngster seen together on a few occasions. Probably now at 11-12 weeks old. Not many flights being seen but it shows the parents are doing a fantastic job.
These young birds will soon have to learn to feed for themselves. A fledged young Grey Heron looked very indignant one day this week when the parent flew in and then didn't feed it - time to go it alone perhaps.
Feeding at the moment shouldn't be too difficult - some fruit is beginning to ripen on bushes. I've enjoyed a few blackberries this week. These Guelder Rose berries are on their way too:
Guelder Rose: Bryn Evans
Plenty of plants are in flower - good food for many insects, which of course become good food for birds too.
Honeysuckle: Bryn Evans
Teasel: Robin Morrison
Teasels provide great food for birds such as Goldfinch once they go to seed but for now this Red Admiral butterfly is enjoying it
Slightly better couple of weeks for butterflies. Spotted this week include: Comma(pictured below), Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Green Veined White, Large White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and Ringlet.
Dragonflies can still be seen in good numbers. You can make a fair list during your visit including: Four Spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer, Southern Hawker, Emperor, Brown Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter and Scarce Chaser. Also look out for the more unusual Norfolk Hawker and Lesser Emperor. The latter is becoming a little more common in the UK now and a several are being seen every day at the moment including in the car park this morning UPDATE: a report of 20-30 individuals around the Waltons trail today - so way more numerous. Look out for the blue "saddle" on the male.
Emperor (male): Mike Uren
Ruddy Darters mating pair: Mike Uren
Brown Hawker: Mike Uren
Plenty of other amazing bugs out there. Once again Bryn Evans has been foraging around to find some more wonderful bugs on the reserve - there's just so much out there:
Ferruginous Bee-Grabber (Sicus Ferrugineus): Bryn Evans
This species is a bee parasite. It lays its eggs on bumblebees and some species of mining bee.
Common Compost Fly: Bryn Evans
This breeds in rotting organic matter ( I suppose someone's got to do it) and is also known as Thick-Legged Hoverfly.
Little Snipefly: Bryn Evans
Its small size and emerald eyes are the ID points to look for. This is a male due to its narrow tapering abdomen.
Dark Brown Cranefly: Bryn Evans
A Species specific to damp and wetland habitats.
Muscid Fly: Bryn Evans
This is a male due to the orange colour on the abdomen. The female being black and grey in colour.
Long Legged Fly: Bryn Evans
Dolichopus genus. For species you will need a microscope.
Cucumber Spider (Araniella genus) : Bryn Evans
22 Spot Ladybird: Bryn Evans
Tiger Marsh Fly: Bryn Evans
Common Nettle Bug: Bryn Evans
Lots of birds can be seen hunting for bugs including this Jay, which was spotted tearing off leaves from a willow and feeding on what was ever underneath - spiders, small bugs etc:
Jay: Robin Morrison
Bird song in general is much less now - not surprisingly. Some Reed warblers can still be heard chattering in the reeds, a Blackcap was singing quietly by the car park this morning, whilst not far away a Song Thrush was belting out its song quite happily.
Many ducks are already gathering together in groups post breeding. I guess if in moult being in a group feels safer too. A large group of Gadwall were gathered in Waltons this week and groups of Mallard can also be seen together:
Cettis Warblers and Water Rails can be heard calling in the reed beds, although seeing them is quite a different matter. I did spot a Cettis by the Waltons screens yesterday whilst Water Rails can sometimes be seen from the Tor View Hide. We will cut the reeds in front of here soon, which will make things a little easier perhaps.
We are beginning to set up the pontoon bridge for accessing the VP1 islands too in August - as long as we are satisfied all breeding has finished. This will stay a little drier and more open for several weeks as we undertake the work before wetting it back up for wintering duck and waders (a lot less rain this year please).
It can be a good place to see Great White Egrets - they love to feed here. This one is perching on the Sand Martin box having a preen in anticipation (it will have to be patient):
From the second platform (VP2) look out for the take off of Greylag Geese in the mornings - they are roosting here overnight and numbers are increasing slowly:
Also this week: Listen out for the Iberian Water Frogs still calling loudly, small mammals have been seen dipping in and out of the stone gabions at VP1 picking up any remnant seeds left by visitors for the birds (a Weasel was also spotted this week), Grass Snakes (see photos below) and Common Lizards using the stone gabions on the old rail bridge as you first enter the reserve from the car park, Ravens heard flying over on Wednesday, several Hobbies spotted throughout the week, Roe Deer spotted around some of the reserves trails, groups of Swift flying over, Swallows at the car park, Green Woodpecker heard from the car park, Buzzards seen daily, Great Spotted Woodpeckers on the feeders at the car park and Cormorants seen sitting on the rails at VP1 and the rafts at Waltons. John Crispin's photo below shows a Cormorant shaking off excess water - love the green eye:
Grass Snakes: Alison Morgan
That's it for this week. Thanks to all those who sent in their amazing shots and supporting information: John Crispin, Bryn Evans, Mike Uren, Robin Morrison and Alison Morgan.
Have a fabulous weekend!