Summer's sendoff
The reserve is savouring the late summer season and autumn's approach. Wader numbers are increasing on the Folly and Whooper Ponds, House Martins & Swallows are gathering, feeding up the last few remaining chicks who will soon fledge. We will be saying goodbye to them very soon, but they will be replaced by the equally delightful Barnacle Geese and Whooper Swans in a few short weeks. Numbers of butterflies are noticeably down, but the Common Darters will hang on until the first frost.
21st August
Folly pond
- 38 Black tailed godwit
- 3 Greenshank
- 10 Curlew
- 3 Little egrets
- Snipe
- Juvenile Peregrine falcon (hunting, caught Black tailed godwit)
Lochar
- Common whitethroat
- 1 Male banded demoiselle
Saltcot Observatory
- 2 Marsh harrier
Back pond
- Kingfisher
22nd August
Folly pond
- 12 Black tailed godwit
- 3 Greenshank
- 5 Curlew
- Moorhen
- Snipe
- Pied wagtail
- Teal
- Lesser black backed gull
- Heron
- Willow warbler
- Common Whitethroat
- Black cap
- Moorhen
- 8 Mute swans
- Heron
23rd August
Whooper pond
- Meadow pipit
- 3 Greenshank
- 125 Lapwing
- Reed bunting
24th August
- Osprey
- Osprey
- Sparrowhawk
- Kestrel
- Bar tailed godwit
- Black tailed godwit
- Cormorant
27th August
Saltcot observatory
- Marsh Harrier
- Little grebe
- Cormorant
- Greenshank
Wildlife garden
- Migrant hawker
28th August
Whooper pond
- Little grebe
- Cormorant
- Reed bunting
- Tree sparrows
- Black tailed godwit
- Ruff
- Bar tailed godwit
Feature photograph Black tailed godwits by Alex Hillier
