Chicks, chicks, chicks

Lovely day at Radipole Lake today.  The hedgerows are full of summer flowers, Purple Loosestrife, Perforate St John's Wort, Meadowsweet, Hemp Agrimony which are attracting the butterflies.  Our Pyramidal Orchids are at their peak with over 30 counted.

It was lovely see our Pochard family of mum and 5 chicks near the bridge by the Discovery Centre.  Where the water was clear you could see the chicks diving down and their little feet paddling away.  So cute :-)

We have several Mute Swan families now.  One family has 7 cygnets, another has 8 and another with 4 and one pair with a solitary cygnet.

Terns over at Lodmoor, although depleted in numbers, the terns still have up to 14 chicks and some of those have fledged this week.  Also on the tern islands are healthy looking Black Headed Gull chicks.  In the photo the chunky chicks on the left are the gulls and the one in the middle is a tern chick.

Photo Credit: Frank Peach, RSPB Volunteer

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Photo Credit: Scarlet Hutchins, Little Tern Warden

Better news for Little Terns at Chesil Beach with it looking like another successful season.  Up to 70 chicks in the colony with many of these making their way down to the shore and some already taking their first flights.

For all the latest sightings, contact Radipole Lake Discovery Centre, details below or pop in and see us. Hot and cold refreshments, sandwiches and snacks available.