Insects emerge

The sudden and welcome increase in temperatures has seen the emergence of a good variety of insects over the last few days - as well as the annual emergence of human lower legs as the shorts get their first seasonal airings.

At least six species of dragonflies and damselflies have been seen so far: hairy dragonflies, four-spotted chasers, large red, common blue, variable and blue-tailed damselfies.

A variable damselfly by Ian Barthorpe 

Among the butterflies, there has been a notable arrival of red admirals, and there are good numbers of small coppers and orange tips around the reserve. Other species seen over the last couple of days include small and green-veined whites, brimstones, peacocks, small tortoiseshells, speckled woods and green hairstreaks. I was particularly pleased to see the latter at lunchtime today as I haven't seen one at Minsmere for a few years.

A green hairstreak taken last year by David Baskett

There have been some day-flying moths too including a few cinnabars and a gorgeous broad-bordered bee-hawkmoth. One of my favorite insects is the dark-edged beefly, and they continue to be seen around the ground ivy flowers. Although I am certainly not an expert on flies, I did also see a St Mark's fly and a mayfly around the pond today.

With so many insects around now, it's not a surprise that our insectivorous birds are easy to spot now too. The sand martins are very active around their nest burrows, swallows are back at the sluice, and I've noticed a notable arrival of both swifts and house martins in my home town since Saturday. On Saturday morning I found a lovely spotted flycatcher in the sluice bushes, while a pied flycatcher was reported int he North Bushes this afternoon. The hobbies, too, are benefiting, with up to five seen over the reedbeds, especially at Island Mere.

Two nightingales are now singing more frequently around the reserve - one near the car park entrance and one near the BBC Springwatch studio. Garden warblers are also singing near the car park entrance and in North Bushes, with lesser whitethroat in the North Bushes, willow warbler near Island Mere, and good numbers of blackcaps, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, reed, sedge and Cetti's warblers around the reserve. The Savi's warbler continues to sing early and late in the day near Island Mere too.

Another popular insect eater is the bearded tit, and they are very active at the moment. especially along the North Wall and near the Konik Field.

Bearded tit by Jon Evans

On the Scrape, there was a good passage of (mostly) summer plumage waders today, including black- and bar-tailed godwits, knots, grey plovers, dunlins, a ruff, a greenshank and common sandpipers as well as the breeding redshanks, oystercatchers, avocets and lapwings. A wood sandpiper was on the Konik Field yesterday too. At least three little terns are favouring South Scrape, but most of the Sandwich terns appear to have moved north. At least one pair of Mediterranean gulls are on the Scrape too.

Within the reedbed, bitterns were booming constantly during my dawn chorus walk on Saturday, and a cuckoo can often be heard at Island Mere. Marsh harriers, buzzards and sparrowhawks are also regular, while a couple of water rails showed well at Island Mere. As you can see form Whistling Joe's recent Forum post, the bitterns are sometimes putting on too good a show too. Not to be outdone, some visitors continue to be lucky enough to see otters, especially early or late in the day.