It's been a busy month for breeding birds on the reserve.
Lapwing have been active all month, and can be regularly seen mobbing and chasing off predatory Crows. There are, as of now, a minimum of 19 nests, with most of these on the east side of the reserve. Visitors can view the nests from the cafe window, where a panoramic guide to the positions of the nests is located.
Lapwing
Our first Swallows were seen on the 13th of the month and , as usual, a pair have started to nest in the passageway by the toilet block. The other habitual site in the underpass has not seen any activity as yet.
On the wetlands, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveller, Teal, Tufted Duck and Shelduck are all breeding. A pair of Pochard have been seen regularly amongst the Tufted Ducks on the Carden Flood. Several Mute Swans are nesting on the reserve, one on the reed bed near the Gilman Hide, easily seen from the cafe window.
A large number of Pink-footed Geese (~1000) can still be seen around the loch, regularly visiting the areas of grassland on the reserve; small numbers of Barnacle Geese on passage have also been sighted. Similarly, there are still a few Whooper Swans hanging around, yet.
Snipe and Redshank have been seen, and heard, throughout the month. Over the last week, a pair of Ringed Plovers were regular visitors to the Flood. Up to 16 Black-tailed Godwits have also been spotted.
Ringed Plover
Black-tailed Godwit
Out on the loch, pairs of Great-Crested Grebes could be seen performing their courtship dance.
Over the month, the Skylarks have become increasingly vocal, as have the Song Thrushes and Blackbirds around the Visitor Centre. Migrating Redpolls have been frequent visitors to the window feeders. Wheatears, one of our earliest summer visitors, are now relatively abundant around the reserve.