I completed the monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) this morning and despite June being traditionally the quietest month for this survey, it is always nice to see broods of young birds around. Here are this morning’s results –
102 mallard – at least 5 broods on site
49 tufted duck
14 gadwall – 1 brood
13 teal – the first teal back on site for the autumn/winter
8 pochard – a group of non-breeding males
2 shoveler
52 mute swan – 3 broods of cygnets from 6 breeding pairs this year and a large group of non-breeding birds at the northern end of the site
7 canada goose
2 greylag goose
1 shelduck
9 great crested grebe – 1 single near-fledged chick
3 cormorant
175 coot – many broods!
2 moorhen
4 little egret
47 lapwing
5 oystercatcher
1 ringed plover
6 common tern
2 black-headed gull
Many ducks are now going into eclipse – autumn is on it’s way!
Also on site this morning are several family parties of long-tailed tits, including one visible near the viewing screen, yellow wagtail, a lovely newly fledged brood of reed bunting on Phase 2 and a female roe deer with three half-grown young – beautiful animals! The grasslands are looking great as well, with both black and greater knapweed now flowering, lady’s bedstraw about the burst any day now and meadow vetchling newly in flower over the weekend. Visit on a warm, sunny day and the grasslands will also be alive with insects.