Once again a very active and interesting week on the reserve. You may have read articles this week on social media regarding some of our extra special birds we have on site at the moment. Great White Egrets were the main feature giving news of probable number of nests and about the ringing of some of the young birds. It's hope we can learn a lot more about the behaviour and distribution of this newly colonising pioneer.
The article also mentioned a bird that we often rather coy about (you may have noticed how I never mention it in the blog. Well the shackles are off - to a certain extent and I'm able to confirm that we have 2 male Little Bitterns (with a possible third) on site at present. I'll chose not to give away precise locations as we're not sure, despite watching them, whether anything significant is going on - but fantastic that they are here nonetheless.
Male in flight - John Crispin.
Night Herons have also been mentioned with a few sightings reported - even less evidence to go on with regards to these but great to have them.
Keeping with the heron theme, it was a surprise to see a second Glossy Ibis drop into the reserve on Saturday. They are spending most of the time in the area in front of the 2nd platform. They have been viewed from there but also from the willow blinds on the footpath side. Other times they are hidden in the now, much longer vegetation. Thanks to John Crispin (above), Natalie Talbot and Tracey Burniston for the great photos
The original Glossy Ibis - Natalie Talbot
2 of a kind (just in case you didn't believe me - Tracey Burniston
Great White Egrets are hard to miss at the moment with as many as 10 being seen in close proximity of each other this week. Bitterns are very busy too. We beleive we have at least 9 nests this year - it could be higher (and maybe the best year yet).
Lots of fantastic Bittern shots sent in to me this week:
Bittern - John Crabb
John Crabb
Natalie Talbot
Thanks to John & Natalie
Plus a great take off sequence sent in by John Crispin. This followed a preening session of over an hour whilst perched in the reeds. Thanks John
Add to this the multiples of Little Egret and Grey Heron and recent fly overs by White Stork and Common Crane and you've got yourself quite a collection!
If that doesn't float your boat how about some birds of prey!
Marsh Harriers continue to busy themselves in front of the Avalon Hide with regular sightings of the 2 active nests here (there's a 3rd further east too).
Marsh Harrier - Natalie Talbot
They also have Buzzards for company in this on the north of the reserve:
Buzzard - John Crabb
If it's Hobby you're after then perhaps Waltons or Loxtons is the place to go. 3 birds seen regularly together here with 4 on one occasion this week. Thanks to John Crabb for another couple of crackers:
Also this week was a Kestrel seen hovering over the car park and perching up on the telegraph poles on Tuesday and Barn Owl see hunting this week but also what appeared to be a well grown youngster poking its head out of the box opposite the first viewing platform (in the woods at the back). A Red Kite also flew north over the first platform yesterday morning - we're certainly getting more frequent sightings of these as time goes on.
Hobbys will still be hunting the many dragonflies that are present on the reserve. Still good numbers of 4 Spotted Chasers but perhaps tailing off slightly. Also sen this week: Black Tailed Skimmer, Emperor, Southern Hawker and the first Common Darters. Damselflies aplenty too with Variable damselflies in huge numbers along with the Blue tailed. Lesser numbers of Azure Red Eyed and Common Blue, 1 or 2 Banded Demoiselle and reports of Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly - a recent colonizer.
A fair number of butterflies too, along with lots of groups of peacock caterpillars (as last week). Meadow Browns are out in force along with Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White, Speckled Wood, Large Skipper and a few Painted Ladies:
Painted Lady - John Crispin
Other more notable sightings this week in a sudden increase in Kingfisher activity. Some of these could be young birds but adults seemed to have returned to old nest sights where no activity has been recorded this season (maybe we just missed it). Great News though.
The area in front of the 2nd platform (apart from the Ibis) offers plenty of duck - many in eclipse plumage, but also several Lapwing, up to 3 Green Sandpiper and both Canada Geese and Greylag geese with young. There's Mute Swan with young here too and in Waltons but also had great views of a family from the Avalon Hide:
Mute Swan with young: John Crabb
Also this week: a slight drop off in the amount of Bearded Tit activity from the area where John Crispin's photos came from last week. Mostly juveniles seen suggesting perhaps they've all now fledged. Closer sightings reported from the second platform area this week. Also several Cuckoo sightings - some over Waltons, one perched towards the east of the reserve but also one perched on a post to the right of the Avalon Hide. Great Crested Grebes are sittng on a nesting platform in front of the hide too while Little Grebe chicks have been seen at a couple of locations including Loxtons. A Roe Deer and fawn were seen together around Loxtons on Tuesday and there seem to be more rabbits along the old rail path at the moment , there's plenty of song from warblers and other song birds and also sightings of Bullfinches which are likely to be nesting - all good stuff.
With all these young birds and eggs around, there are dangers everywhere. Lesser Black Gulls have often been sen taking chicks of various species but it seems Crows are the expert egg theives. John Crabb's got the photographic evidence of one such bird. It was seen hawking over the reedbeds before plunging in:
It emerged around 10 minutes later with an egg which it carried off. Once they know where a nest location is they will usually clear it out. That was probably the case here as the bird returned and repeated the process:
That's it for this week - thank you to all who contributed the wonderful photographs. Without them it's just me rambling on!!
Have a great weekend !