A walk around No.6 tank this morning with a start at Godscroft lane where many Common Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warbler all made their presence known. A Cetti’s Warbler was a little more boisterous. A pair of Oystercatcher was in a field along Lordship lane as were several breeding Lapwing.
A Common Buzzard flew over No.6 much to the annoyance of the small but mob handed Black-headed Gull colony there.
The ‘Splashing Pool’ had a pair of Common Shelduck, a pair of Gadwall and several Mallard while the nearby scrape held Tufted Duck and more Common Shelduck, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 pair of Lapwing and the Eurasian Coot family, which is down to 2 chicks. There were 6 Avocet on the scrape with the godwit flock which had relocated from No.6 to feed in the shallow water and increased to c300 birds.
A Small Copper butterfly was also noted.
The waters of No.6 held the usual ducks, Tufted Duck, Common Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, 4 Mute Swan c30 Coot and 7 on their nests. A small number of godwits remained and 12 Dunlin dropped in on the tide.
The hirundines have all arrived back in force and Common Swift were handing about.
Observer and images: Paul Ralston with additions by WSM.
