Our first avocet family have flown off to pastures new, and the 2nd family with chicks which will soon be flying around. This little piece of ornithological history is really important as 8 years ago when the RSPB took over management of the site avocets were just a pipe dream and now they have been successful on their first ever attempt to fledge at Middleton! We are eager to see if they return next year, to perhaps start a little inland colony!
Other waders about recently have been up to 2 greenshank, 3 whimbrel, 20 ringed plovers, 2 dunlin, 4+ green sandpipers and common sandpipers along with the usual redshanks, lapwings, LRP’s and oystercatchers. We have also had 2 rather showy black-tailed godwits right in front of the eastern/river screen. Great opportunity for a good photo.
Black-tailed godwits by Mike Pollard
Up to 40 common terns are present on site. A mix of free flying juveniles and adults, and they have definitely not all bred at Middleton (we only had 4 nests this year!). So the thinking is they have come from other wetlands in the valley to use Middleton to learn to fish and group together ready for their southward journey.
An unexpected visit from 3 ruddy shelduck (which I missed, *humph*) added a splash of exoticism to the reserve. They were found mid morning and departed in the afternoon. On the same day as the ruddy shelduck, a spotted flycatcher was seen by the farm. These birds, at one point, we regular summer migrants but are becoming increasingly scarce in recent years. Now and into autumn is probably the best time to see them as the young disperse from territories and join the flocks of young finches and warblers which will soon start to gather in the hedgerows.
Ruddy shelduck by Marion Parnell
Today see’s the start of the Big Butterfly Count. Until the 9th August, butterfly conservation are encouraging as many people as possible to take 15 minutes to count butterflies and record what they see. It’s a nation wide survey and a really good barometer of the state of butterflies. For more info check out their website, http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/about If you come down to the reserve to count butterflies, you wont be disappointed at the moment. There’s been a big emergence of ringlets, gatekeepers and meadow browns which can be found pretty much everywhere on the reserve!
Ringlet by Kate Thorpe
Newly emerged commas are looking particularly bright and obvious when feeding on the blue cornflowers of the canal meadow. Large, small and essex skippers are darting about, causing our butterfly transects to take that little bit longer as we check for black antenna tips of the Essex skipper! Small tortoishells, peacocks and red admirals are taking advantage of the brambles for a nectar source. If you visit the reserve at the weekend and want to share any photos, please add them to our photo pages or email the Middleton lakes email as we would love any photos to decorate our blogs!
Comma by Christine Maughan
We will endeavor to keep this blog updated on a weekly basis, but to keep your finger on the Middleton Lakes pulse check out our RSPB Birmingham, Black Country and Warwickshire facebook page and follow us on Twitter @RSPBMiddleton. If you enjoy taking photos, we would love for you to add them to our Community page. To keep up to date with Middleton and other sightings in the valley check out the tame valley birding blog http://tamevalleybirding.blogspot.co.uk/