No Black Terns....
It's May and another day with easterly winds and rain showers and still no Black Terns! This isn't really a complaint as the reserve is packed full of breeding species as well as the current crop of migrating waders, the later making a count of 14 species of wader today.
Too late for yesterday's update but a single Sanderling was on Woodend Marsh late on and was new for the year. Today 3 more Turnstone briefly joined the 2 Knot on Woodend Marsh. Also there 7 Ruff, 4 Dunlin, 8 tundra Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 30+ Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshanks.
On the Mere Common Sandpiper but mobile, a brief Greenshank and late on Whimbrel.
Woodend tends to be best for waders at the moment but they do fly around the reserve when flushed by Marsh Harrier, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
The first Black-headed Gull chick 'fluffballs' have hatched in front of the Ron Barker Hide. Expect raiding Lesser Black-backed Gulls to swoop from now until the end of June.
Grasshopper Warbler reeling and very occasionally showing in Hawthorn by the gate next to the United Utilities Hide. The Reed Bed Walk is the best for catching up with all the other warbler species on the reserve including the elusive non calling Cetti's Warbler which has only shown a couple time this year.
The first odonata on the wing, a Large Red Damselfly near the Ron Barker Hide.
