After the changeable weather of the last few weeks, it's been lovely to enjoy a week of mainly sunny days. The wildlife certainly has a more summery feel too, with good numbers of Meadow Brown and Small Heath butterflies dancing across the grasslands, swarms of Common Blue Damselflies zipping around the pond, and larger Four-spotted Chaser and Norfolk Hawker dragonflies patrolling the pond margins. Some visitors have even spotted freshly emerged Elephant Hawkmoth and Cream-spot Tiger moths along the North Wall.
It's certainly worth pausing for a while at the pond, as apart from the dragons and damsels, our visitors are being treated to regular sightings of at least two Water Voles - though not as predictably as last autumn at the moment - plus an occasional Grass Snake swimming stealthily in pursuit of hapless Smooth Newts. Look out for Common Lizards basking onthe boardwalks, too - yesterday I spotted a tail-less one close to East Hide.
Although the main stars of Digger Alley are yet to emerge, the warm up acts are appearing, with sightings of several species of mining-bee and digger wasp already, including the first Green-eyed Flower-bees, and yesterday I enjoyed the unusual sight of a mating pair of Dune Chafers. The female was obviously emitting a few pheromones as several other males were in attendance too.
Dune Chafers getting frisky
Of course, many of these insects are important pollinators, so it's no surprise that there's a wonderful array of beautiful flowers in full bloom around the reserve. The dunes, in particular, look absolutely stunning, with Yellow-horned Poppy, Sea Pea, Sea Bindweed, both English and Biting Stonecrops, Sheep's-bit and several of the yellow dandelion-like Compositaies in flower.
The pink-and-white trumpet-like flowers of Sea Bindweed are a typical summer sight on the dunes
Similarly, along the North Wall you can look for Common Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lesser Trefoil, White Clover, Grass Vetchling, Black Knapweed and a variety of thistles, while Marsh Mallow is just beginning to bloom along the Sluice track. Best of all this year is the incredible display of Foxgloves in the woods.
The Foxgloves are spectacular this year
Of course, midsummer is also the peak of the breeding season. Several broods of Bitterns have already fledged, but a few females are still feeding young, so if you spend some time in either Bittern or Island Mere Hides they you should have a good chance of spotting a feeding flight. The first Marsh Harriers should be fledging very soon, too. Other sightings from these reedbed hides might include Hobby, Great Egret, Little and Great Crested Grebe, Reed Bunting, Bearded Tit or the reedbed warblers, as well as Sand Martins and Swifts skimming above the reeds in pursuit of flies.
Black-headed Gulls are beginning to fledge on the Scrape and dozens of pairs of Common and Sandwich Terns are nesting. Among them, look out for Kittiwakes and a few Mediterranean Gulls and Little Gulls, but there have been no sightings for a few days of Little, Roseate or Arctic Terns.
These two Kittiwakes were trying out a series of new dance moves on East Scrape
At least 200 Avocets remain on the Scrape, along with a non-breeding flock of about 120 Black-tailed Godwits. The first Spotted Redshanks and Green Sandpipers of the "autumn" have returned to the Scrape. It's typical for a handful of these waders to return south from the Arctic this early. These will be either failed breeders, or females that have left the males in charge of the nest and headed back south to moult. Late June and early July is the best of year to see Spotted Redshanks in their gorgeous black breeding plumage.
Some of the Black-tailed Godwits on the Scrape this week, with Avocets, Oystercatcher and several species of ducks in the background
Teal, too, have begun to return south, joining the moulting Shovelers, Gadwalls and Mallards on the Scrape, while it's great to broods of humbug-marked Shelduck chicks, and a family of similarly patterned Egyptian Geese. Other birds seen on the Scrape this week included Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron and a Glossy Ibis. The latter has been seen most days, but doesn't tend to be seen for long before disappearing into the reeds.
Shelduck chicks enjoying a rest with mum keeping watch