It has been a time of new life and some special visitors this month. Bowers Marsh has been visited by a Whooper Swan, a male Ring-necked Duck and several Black-necked Grebes. This borought a flurry of birders in at the beginning of the month. The Ring-necked Duck was elusive at times either on the far side of the fresh water lagoon or fast asleep with its head tucked in making identification tricky. However it did come close to the viewing area at least once.
Ring-necked Duck by David Lee
Several Cuckoos have been heard but were not always visible. Birds of prey were represented by Hobby, Kestrel, Buzzard and Peregrine. Plenty of ducks have been around especially Tufted Duck and Pochard. In the reeds Reed Warblers have been singing and several Sedge Warblers have been seen. Many Swallows have been cruising over the water and some Swifts have been reported.
The main waders have been Avocets on Bowers Marsh with sightings of both Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover and several Redshank. Bowers Marsh has had a good year's breeding for the Avocets with many little chicks running around quite independently of their parents. Several Lapwing chicks have also been seen.
There have been a large number of Black-headed Gulls and some Lesser Black-backed Gull while among then a few Common Tern have managed to find a place to roost on the shingle.
Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaff have been making their presence felt by their song.