Exciting news- 3 common tern chicks were hatched (18th.) after the parents had aggressively defended a nest site for about 3 weeks on the main island in Forge Mill Lake. This is believed to be a first for the reserve.
Other known successful breeders include blue, great and long-tailed tits, robin, mallard, tufted duck, one with a brood of 12, lapwing, coot, moorhen, mute swan, reed bunting, blackcap, reed warbler, willow warbler, whitethroat, starling and great-crested grebe, seen carrying 3 young on its back (30th.).
Unfortunately the oystercatcher pair and the little-ringed plovers would both appear to have been unsuccessful after making several nesting attempts. There are still a few coots sitting nests and a lapwing sitting on 2 eggs, all probably on second broods.
Other sightings included a white-winged black tern that passed through (21st.), peregrine (19th.), green and common sandpiper (24th.), water rail, kingfisher, ring-necked parakeet, green and great-spotted woodpecker, bullfinch, goldfinch, cormorant, buzzard, sparrowhawk, as well as small flocks of swift, swallow, house and sand martin. On the lake there were up to 14 gadwall, 3 pochard and single teal and shoveler.
Warblers not already mentioned were sedge warblers, chiffchaff, garden warbler and lesser whitethroat.
See you on the reserves,
Best regards,
Chris Edwards