Fledglings, dragonflies and butterflies
The hot weather has accelerated the wildflowers onsite. As the cowslip and ragged robin start to disappear, common valerian, various umbellifers and bird’s-foot trefoil appear in abundance, with southern marsh and common spotted orchids flourishing on the wet grassland.
Dragons and damsels are out in force, on sunnier days expect to see azure, blue-tailed and red-eyed damselflies, broad-bodied chaser, emperor dragonfly and now black-tailed skimmer starting to make an appearance.
Butterflies spotted include speckled wood, peacock, red admiral, painted lady, common blue and we did even find a dingy skipper at the Triangle. Ruby-tailed wasps are also around – look out for these jewel toned insects often resting on fence rails.
The kingfisher pair in the Sand Martin Hide are still feeding young, but as fledging age approaches, the adult pair may be wanting to nest again shortly afterwards. Of course, the young will have to find their own territories, so this will be an interesting story to watch unfold.
Sand martins are also using the nest chambers in the artificial nest bank in good numbers. The final number will not be confirmed until chambers are cleaned out later in the year.
The chick of the oystercatcher pair that nest in front of the Coastal Creek aviary has fledged and the family has flown over to the Reedswamp exhibit (top image). An second oystercatcher pair are nesting on the naturalized roof of the San Martin hide (above). Pics by Media volunteer Andrew Burns
Tues 21 June
Scrape hide: a juvenile grey heron with an adult
Reedswamp exhibit: 3 oystercatchers - 2 adults and fledgling
Sand Martin hide: 1oystercatcher on the roof, several sand martins in and out of nest holes
Trails: broad bodied chaser dragonflies, common blue damselflies, red admiral butterflies
Long path: juvenile moorhens.
Sun 19 June
Riverside: 1 cuckoo heard.
Wetland Discovery: 1 black-headed gull, 2 tufted ducks, 4 mallards
Ramsar hide & sand martin hide: 1 cattle egret, 1 oystercatcher
Pelican Cove: 4 pochards
Reedswamp exhibit: 3 oystercatchers- 2 adults and fledgling
Sat 18 June
Arun Riverlife: 2 back-headed gulls, 2 mute swans, 1 moorhen, 2 greylags geese, 12 Canada geese, 4 gadwall, and 12 mallards
Friday 17 June
Sand martin hide: 1 oystercatcher on the roof, c20 sand martins, 2 kingfishers flew across the water, perched up and chased each other around the lagoon
Tundra pen: pyramidal orchids flowering
Offham hangar: peregrine perched in dead beech
Pelican Cove: adult pochard and juvenile, 1 kestrel
Reedswamp: 3 oystercatchers- 2 adults and fledgling
Woodland Loop: 2 greylag geese and two youngsters, 3 goldfinches, 6 chaffinches, 11 mallard including 6 newly hatched ducklings, 3 greenfinches including a juvenile, 10 great tits & 10 blue tits (mostly juveniles), 3 robin including a juvenile, 1 coal tit, 4 moorhens with 2 juvenile and a hatchling, 2 squirrels, 1 nuthatch
Thurs 16 June
Reedbed Loop: 1 sedge warbler, 5 reed warblers, 1 kestrel, 1 Cetti’s warbler
Reedswamp exhibit: 3 oystercatchers- 2 adults and fledgling
Sand Martin hide: 1 oystercatcher sitting on the roof, 8 sand martins, 1 kingfisher
Pelican Cove: 1 male pochard with youngster
Ramsar hide: 1 pochard
Lapwing hide: 1 barn owl hunting on wet grassland
Wed 15 June
Butterflies on site: 1 clouded yellow butterfly, 3 red admirals, 2 small tortoiseshells, 1 comma, 1 speckled wood, 3 meadow browns, and 1 common blue butterfly
Damsels and dragonflies: willow emerald damselfly on Raised Pond (new species never recorded here before), four spotted chaser dragonfly, and clouded border moth.
