It has been a busy last few weeks of the summer holiday so please excuse the dearth of posts.
Return migration is well underway although the lack of water across most of the marsh is somewhat reducing our ability to bring in waders and wildfowl. Teal numbers are slowly building up and the first two Pintail appeared yesterday and it will not be long before the Wigeon return. The Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit flock is now up to about 70 with many warm coloured juveniles amongst the flock.
Black-tailed Godwits - Ian Plume
Greenshank are now at seven and there has been a small but steady passage of Dunlin and Ringed Plover with a few Ruff, Snipe, Green Sandpiper and singles of Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Grey Plover recorded. There is still plenty of time for more waders though!
The two adult males and one female Marsh Harrier are still floating around although all three are now looking a little tatty as they undergo their moult and fresh looking juveniles (that may well not be our own birds) are seen most days along with plenty of Buzzard activity.
juvenile Marsh Harrier - John Humble
Hobby season has returned to coincide with the mass emergence of hundreds of hungry Migrant Hawkers and so the daily battle where the hunter becomes the hunted takes place in an aerial ballet above the marsh.
Hobby - Rog Warner
Migrant Hawker - Tony O'Brien
MH - Mick Brockington
MH - John Humble
Willow Emeralds are still being seen from some of the bridges but they take some finding as they often just hang around waiting for a tiny morsel to chase.
Willow Emerald - Ian Plume
There are still plenty of Wasp Spiders around but like the Emeralds, they can be tricky to find but once you get your eye in on the hole in the grass that they create to spin their web across then you will find that they are actually quite numerous!
Wasp Spider - Mark Laffling
Insects have to be on their toes though as there are still mouths to feed and bellies to fatten up before the long journey south into Africa. Reed warblers are certainly still attending nest and most of the common warblers have been seen in recent days as they drop in and stock up.
Reed Warbler - Qaasim Syed
Whinchats and Wheatears have been a little thin on the ground but Yellow Wagtails are a daily find amongst our cattle although seeing them on the ground is somewhat tricky.
Water Voles have been showy in the ditches and Grass Snakes are more noticeable as they smaller Marsh Frogs appear. You can still hear the frogs croaking on nicer days.
Water Vole - Doug Wright
Grass Snake - Andy Hibbard
Marsh Froglets - Andy Hibbard
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer