Other successful breeding birds on the reserve not mentioned last month were goldfinch, linnet, dunnock, wren, crow and a small number of tufted ducks. There have been good numbers of tufted ducklings in previous years and the large numbers of nesting canada geese on the island this year may be a factor in this reduction, 135 were counted around the lake (3rd.).
A couple of black-tailed godwit visited for about a week, a greenshank had a short stay (8th.) and common sandpiper was a regular sighting, as was oystercatcher, little-ringed plover, including juveniles, little grebe and common tern. Kingfishers were being seen regularly again after scarce sightings earlier in the year.
The great-crested grebe chicks are making good progress, as are the 5 mute swan cygnets. The lapwing flock has increased to about 55.
All the usual warblers were active around the reserve including sedge, reed and willow warbler, whitethroat, blackcap and chiffchaff. There were frequent sightings of bullfinch, reed bunting, great-spotted and green woodpeckers, kestrel, buzzard and sparrowhawk and daily sightings of swallow, swift, house and sand martin.
Among the 200+ black-headed gulls a mediterranean gull was identified. The lesser black-backed gulls continue to predate coot and moorhen chicks.
On the main lake there were small numbers of gadwall, pochard, teal, shoveler, mallard, grey heron, cormorant and the resident injured goosander
Many thanks to volunteer Colin Sedgwick for compiling this list.
See you on the reserves,
Best regards,
Chris Edwards