I joined our band of surveyors this morning for our monthly general reserve survey which provides us with data to analyse population trends and productivity of bird species using the reserve. As one would expect at this time there was quite a high proportion of fledglings amidst the count and on the top of Radipole I happened upon young reed warblers, sedge warblers, reed bunting, whitethroat, chaffinch and gadwall. Meanwhile Frank and Allan on Lodmoor were able to add mallard, shelduck and tufted ducklings to the list of youngsters as well as bearded tit, oystercatcher, cygnets and no fewer than 40 common tern chicks to this heartening list.
Added to this the two mother marsh harriers are still evident and actively hunting now, (rather than leaving it to the poor overstretched polygamous male) which suggests that the chicks are fairly well advanced. According to our calculations, (based on when it appeared that they began incubating) there could be harrier fledglings within the next week on Lodmoor and perhaps slightly later on Radipole.
The femme fatale majestically scything through the short-lived blue. Luke Phillips.
We were never able to ascertain quite how many first brood kingfishers fledged but there are still juvs about on both reserves. It appeared that the parents went straight on with a second brood but it seems that incubation change-overs are not so frequent as previously. I am sure many of you spend more time in North Hide than ourselves so we'd be interested to know your thoughts on the kingfishers progress or otherwise. As Luke's photographs from Sunday evening shows they are still active around north pool - and no less colourful for their parenting marathon.
With all this positivity floating, fluttering, hawking and flapping about it is easy to get complacent about the perils that our wildlife faces - perils that will only intensify if a major funding stream runs dry. Rather than do a bad job explaining what is on the agenda in Brussels and the consequences it will bring for our wildlife, I have attached a blog from Martin Harper, our new Director of Conservation, detailing the threat of cuts and what we can do to give nature a voice.
PLEASE read and pass on to anyone you know who may be revolted at the prospect of a countryside without the song of skylarks...
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/ourwork/b/martinharper/archive/2011/06/21/con-t-cut-the-life-from-our-countryside-the-sequel.aspx