I know it's only been a few days since the last one but thought it was well worth getting in the usual Friday blog and getting back on track.
I hadn't been well for a few days and it was great to be back at work and catch sight of an Osprey. The bird was looking rather tatty - perhaps after a busy breeding season so there's a chance that it will hang around the local reserves for a few days. Good views were had over Waltons, Loxtons and the 2nd platform and the bird was seen yesterday distantly on the right of the old railway bridge as you come onto the reserve. Nothing so far today though as I write this but you never know.
This rail bridge is often worth a quick stop off. Kingfishers have bred nearby, although it looks a though they have now fledged with multiple birds seen flying around late last week. If you peer into the water you'll often see groups of fish - Rudd were there this morning and a lovely Banded Demoiselle flitting along the bank edges. I've also seen Bullfinches nearby in recent weeks.
The first platform is still very overgrown in front - so very little water showing. Our reed cutting machine should return from repair soon and in 2 weeks or so we should be able to get out and start cutting and clearing this area. The second platform and the section in between the the 2 platforms have plenty to offer though. Lots of splashy areas and some bare mud showing in front (and a bit to the left) of the second platform. There is still some vegetation that gets in the way a bit but with a bit of effort you should be able to pick out a variety of species. Reported from here this past week include: 3 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Wigeon, 3 Garganey,up to 70 Black Tailed Godwits, well over 200 Lapwing, Great White Egrets, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 3x Green Sandpiper and 100's of other duck including: Gadwall, Mallard and Pochard.
Behind you in Loxtons is still a good place to hunt for Hobby, with 3 seen together here on Tuesday and the usual host of Cormorants perched on the Loxtons rafts in front of the screen. Kingfishers are seen here too quite regularly as well as over in Waltons.
There's a fair range of species here you can see readily from the screens and hide. Of particular note are Little Grebes of which there seen to be a few broods across the reserve. From the screen both adults and juveniles are clearly visible. There were some particularly small youngsters out on the north of the reserve on Wednesday - probably just a couple of days old - so tiny.
Juvenile Little Grebe
and the adult........
adult with young...
Also within Waltons and easily visible are Great Crested Grebes, although I'm not quite sure what this one is up to .....
We're still seeing a few Bittern flights - Wednesday was particularly good although nesting has now all but finished. There were lots of flights distant of the 2nd platform and this area has been abundant with Marsh Harrier activity this week. They seen to be everywhere and adults have been seen up and flying with 2 youngsters together and food passes have also been witnessed. 3 successful nests out in this area is our best season to date.
When the suns shining, the insects seem to wake up and the butterflies, bumblebees and dragonflies become a lot more visible. Peacock butterflies seem to be the most abundant at the moment and the flowering plants along the edges of the paths seem to be packed with life. The Hemp Agrimony is a popular plant with the butterflies with a Speckled Wood pictured feeding on it below:
Also seen this week: Small Skipper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White, Red Admiral and Brimstone (pictured).
In terms of dragonflies it seems to be a fantastic year for Brown Hawkers - the most I've seen. Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy darter and Southern Hawker have also been recorded this week.
We've been preparing some areas for our Reptiles & Amphibians day in August - hoping to attract some species to certain areas for good public views on the day. Slow Worms and Grass Snakes were seen so we're in with a shout as well as Common Toad, Common Frog and of course the Iberian Water Frog - great views in the car park pools again this morning.
Also this week: Great Spotted Woodpecker daily, Raven flying over Waltons on Thursday, good numbers of House and Sand Martins on Tuesday with c20 Swift the same day, Barn Owl seen from the boxes opposite the 1st platform on Tuesday, 2 Otter spraints (poos) on Tuesdays Otter survey - great to have signs if no sightings, Common Tern loafing with Godwits on Wednesday and a great sighting of 4 juvenile Bearded Tits (unfortunately not in public areas as usual) on Tuesday.
juvenile Bearded Tit - with the familiar black stripe on the back (absent in adult birds).
That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!