Hi John - are these "our" chicks fledged?
yes the two of the west raft and 2 off the main shingle island. There are 2 more small chicks on the middle raft.
On the
Moors this evening, the water had started to drop. A small influx of very noisy terns occurred at 6pm bringing the adult count to 14. Also 2 LRP juvs flew around but were unable to land, also common sand, 3 oycs and 12 lapwing including our 3 juvs. 8 teal and 3 shoveler, a female pochard and a wigeon represented the ducks. There is an increase in large gulls (LBBG) appearing on the Moors during the day, these have come from the fields to the west, where ploughing is taking place. Two common gulls accompanied the large gulls a 1st and a 2nd summer. A whitethroat was taking food to it nest almost certainly its 2nd brood. A flock of 50 starlings, was the most I have seen this summer, the bird is more often absent than not.
The
Flashes:AM
After the rain this morning, plagues of insects attracted many passerines. On the fox fence to the south of the main hide, were a family of 4 chiffchaffs including 2 very bright juvs, juv sedge warbler and a singing adult. Whitethroat, reed buntings, wren and several linnets and goldfinches were also perched on the fence. So check this fence from the right side window, when you next visit. A raven called whilst perched in the dead tree south of the Flashes.
This evening at Flashes:
Shoveler 8 feeding in the 3rd Flash, green sand 13, LRP 10 (6 ads + 4 juvs), Curlew 19, BHG 50 roosted with 2 1st summer common gulls.
The juv cuckoo again showed well by the bridge, listen out for its tzee, tzee call as it begs for food, sounds not unlike a young dunnock contact note.
Also in this area there were: blackcap, whitethroat, chiffchaffs, reed and sedge warbler, song thrush, great spotted woodpecker and 4 treecreepers seen by Peter E, as well as green and goldfinch.
Today at least 70 species were seen.
