The last in a short series of diaries about birds on the reserve from Ken Croft. Hopefully, in the future we'll round of the previous month with one of his summaries..!
"In a month with no real highlights here are the highlights. A Little Grebe dropped in on 30th, Grey Herons were regular visitors, Greylag Geese reached a max of 36 on the 3rd, a Shelduck was seen on the 8th and 8 Common Scoter flew north on the 4th as did 3 Sanderling.
Offshore on the 4th, 13 Sandwich Terns were feeding alongside 7 Arctic Terns and a Common Tern on the 28th was the month's only record for this species. A good count of 16 Puffins were present on the 18th and a group of 7 Feral Pigeons that had strayed into the area were "Peregrined". Only two sightings of Cuckoo this month on 10th & 12th, five Swifts flew over on the 3rd and a single Sand Martin on 29th was this month's only record. The last reported Wheatear was seen on the 3rd, a Grasshopper Warbler was 'reeling' on the 2nd and Spotted Flycatchers were seen up until the 5th. A single Starling on the 22nd was followed by a group of 19 on the 24th feeding on cut silage. 12 Siskin showed well on the 2nd and singles were seen on the 5th and 16th. By the end of the month a flock of 54 Linnets had assembled, Lesser Redpolls were present all month and Reed Buntings began to appear from the 18th onwards.
It has been a very good breeding season and the following species were either feeding young or had fledged young already in the area; Cormorant, Mallard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Chough, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Linnet."
Hope you have enjoyed these....