I had a walk around the reserve this morning with a couple of Nottinghamshire birders. Bird highlights were:
Marsh harrier - the male brought in food for one of the juveniles over Phase 1 reedbed. The juvenile flew up to the male, which drops the food for juvenile to catch in flight in a food pass. The male was seen later on hunting over flelds to the south of the reserve.
Greenshank - a bird flew over calling.
Green sandspiper - 3 birds on Phase 2.
Common sandpiper - 3 birds on Phase 2.
Little egret - 1 on Phase 2.
Kingfisher - a bird heard calling as it flew along a ditch in Phase 2.
Common buzzard - 3 birds soaring over the southern part of the reserve and an adult in wing moult flew out of a hedge by Phase 3.
There were lots of butterflies, dragon and damselflies about and a small heath butterfly was flying by the eastern public footpath.