Yesterday a Wheatear was seen briefly by the Giant Ant Hill and I forgot to add it into my report... today it showed very well by the Reedbed DZ and everyone managed to get some great shots of this immaculate juvenile bird. I was suprised that it did not show some signs of real juvenile scaling above or below being this early in the season so I presume that it's parents got going good and proper once on their breeding grounds!
(Tony Orwell)
(Russ Sherriff)
Waders were pretty much as yesterday with only a few extra probing Snipe to add to the list. ..... 8 Black Tailed Godwits, 5 Green Sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Whimbrel, Curlew, 86 Lapwing and the male Ruff.
Tony O also got good views of an immature Water Rail and one of our cute Tufted Duck broods....
Plenty of Martins and Swallows around again and the Kingfishers were vocal on the Mar Dyke and seem to have another three chicks on the wing which is great news.
Let's see what tomorrow brings.............. oh and if anyone would like to wander round a bit earlier, I should be in by 0730 if you would like early access.
30-7-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer