Tern around!
After the sad loss of the male Common tern, it was warming to see another pair briefly around the reserve at the beginning of the week roosting on the new island on Arun riverlife. Was it our female with a new mate or a different pair? Hopefully next year will see the return of a Common tern pair.
Today from the Lapwing hide there was a feeding Redshank, several adult Lapwing with two well grown juveniles and two others which were no more than two weeks old! The pair of Oystercatchers were also present so there chick must be hidden out there somewhere.
Two male Shoveler in eclipse plumage from the Ramsar hide today with a Water Vole on the far bank. Prior to the wet grassland creation here water voles were virtually non existent from this hide. A Cuckoo was still present up to mid week but looking at the BTO satellite tracked cuckoos, ours could well have followed them back into France on their return migration.
Several Swifts were attracted above the centre building early this morning. Currently we are playing calls to attract them to check out our swift box under the eaves of the building.
Time of the insect is really upon us now with every conceivable shape, size and colour frantically feeding, flying mating and laying eggs. Highlights being a few Meadow browns, Black tailed skimmer dragonflies and Red eyed Damselflies.
Purple loosestrife and Meadowsweet are now starting to bloom over most of the reserve along with a whole host of other species.
