We have been treated to some excellent birds recently here at Langford and the good stuff just keeps on coming, with yesterday’s records making it perhaps one of the site’s best days ever.
It was also volunteer Sunday and 8 people arrived bright and early to the news of a spoonbill, seen early morning on silt lagoon 6 (the reedy one near the Beach Hut). The bird had then flown over Phase 1 (where the visitor trails are) and southwards over the workings. This is the second record of spoonbill in the last three weeks, but only the third record since 2005. The bird was seen again around 12.00 flying over the southern end of the site, but despite an extensive search throughout most of the day, it eluded staff and volunteers! Well done to Thursday volunteer Rob Werran and Craig Brookes for finding the bird – one of their list of 70 species seen yesterday, also including whimbrel and black-tailed godwit.
Another male whinchat, following the first reserve record in years 2 weeks ago, was found by members of Mansfield RSPB group at the northern end of the site on the western boundary fenceline. This one also eluded staff and volunteers!
Also yesterday were 2 dunlin and 2 more black-tailed godwits and the first swifts of 2014.
Plenty of insects are on the wing too, with the first blue-tailed and common blue damselflies of the year, the first green tiger beetles, several moth species including common carpet, latticed heath and a stunning puss moth on a fence post seen from the visitor trails.
With the site now being open three weeks, we are seeing increasing numbers of visitors through – yesterday was our busiest day yet! Thank you to everyone who has visited so far, we hope you are enjoying the site and please do keep finding the good birds!
Spoonbill. Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
Hi, I came for a walk a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed with the new car park (simple things...lol) I've been telling all my birdwatching/walking friends to go and have a look too.