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Latest wildlife news and Spring Migration roundup to 28 May
Breeding wader summary (so far)
A pair of Curlew made three nesting attempts this year, two of which were flooded by high tides and the third was sadly predated.
At least 10 pairs of Redshank have nested or held territory, at least three broods by 27th.
It's been a tough season for Lapwing with floods, cold weather and losses of young.Three females were still defending young on 27th.
Two pairs of Little-ringed Plover have bred with one pair abandoning the nest in the Rushy after five days of cold nights, a pair have hatched four chicks on the South Lake. Another (the Rushy) pair have begun nest scraping on the South Lake with a spare male visiting.
Oystercatchers have chicks on the South Lake, Arctic Adventure exhibit and North American pen, at least six more nests yet to hatch.
Kingfishers
Although we have limited viewing opportunities, the South Finger pair appear to have now fledged their young and the South Lake pair appear to be on a second nesting attempt after fledging young.
Dragonflies
Whilst we carry out various reserve work tasks we've can help but note the amazing odonata about the site, many species are colonizing the newly created wetland habitats.
Broad-bodied Chaser on territory on the paleo channel pond-Goose House Ground also noted on the new ditches in roads fields along with a few Scarce Chasers and a Hairy Dragonfly.
A short section of widened SL2020 project ditch near Goose House Hut held at least 4 Four –spot Chaser, 2 Black-tailed Skimmer, 10 Azure Damselfly, Emperor, Hairy Dragonfly and Broad-Bodied Chaser this week.
Hairy Dragonfly South Finger and on the new ditches in the road fields.
First Ruddy Darter of the year in 100 Acre on 27th.
Four Broad-bodied Chaser along the Big Pen ditch near South Lake on 28th.
A Bee swarm flew low along the Summer Walkway at 12:30pm on 26th.
A concise roundup of Spring migrants and highlights from 1 April-27 May 2020.
1 April- First Wheatear, 9 Russian White-fronts.
2 April- Osprey over N, last 2 Russian White-fronts. 50+ Chiffchaff, some Meadow Pipit passage N.
4 April- first Swallow, Spoonbill dropped in on South Lake.
5 April- first Willow Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 3cy Med Gull, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover. Spoonbill on SL late afternoon.
6 April- first House Martins, 3 Sandwich Tern N, 3 Little Gull N, 1 Whimbrel,+ a fall of 21 singing Willow Warbler and increase to 10+ singing Blackcap, 3cy Med Gull, 30 Sand Martin. 2 Grey Plover.
7 April-12 Willow Warbler. 2 3cy Med Gull, 1 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin.
8 April- 4 Willow Warbler, 414 Black-tailed Godwit, first 2 singing Sedge Warbler, 3cy Med Gull, sickly looking adult Little Gull was on the Tack Piece.
9April- First Yellow Wagtail with 2 N, 18 Knot, only the one Willow Warbler heard, adult Little Gull still, Bittern, Red Kite over, female Merlin.
10 April- 3+ singing Reed Warbler, first of the year, 10+ singing Sedge Warbler, 5 possibly 8 GW Egret, 3 Med Gull.
11 April- female Garganey.
12 April- Bittern, 1 Yellow Wagtail, adult Little Gull, 2cy Med Gull, female Goosander N,
13 April- adult Little Gull, 5 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 2 GW Egrets female Goldeneye, 56 Curlew, 3 Yellow Wagtail.
14 April- Little Gull, Marsh Harrier.
15 April- 1 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler, Little Gull adult, 2 Greenshank.
16 April- First Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow, female Goldeneye, Red Kite over, 1 Yellow Wagtail over N, 5 GW Egret.
17 April- 1 Common Sandpiper.
18 April- 2 Willow Warbler singing, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel, 15 probable Arctic Tern, 3 Little Gulls all N.
19 April- 3 Willow Warbler singing
20 April- 2 Red Kite over N, one 1230pm and another 3.45pm. Siskin landed briefly then continued NE, 15+ singing Sedge Warbler.
21 April- 1 Hobby, 1 GW Egret, Ruff, 2 Yellow Wagtail N, 2 Willow Warbler singing.
22 April- 1 Sandwich Tern North, A second and third adult Little Gull had joined the long staying bird with 6 (5 adults, 1 and 1st winter) seen heading N up the river at lunchtime. Common Whitethroat singing SL, Common Tern on South Lake. Cuckoo heard.
23 April- 11 Bar-tailed Godwit flew NE, 1 Grey Plover, 1 adult Little Gull still with 2 seen heading NE in the morning. Singing Common and Lesser Whitethroat in the car park.
24 April- Little Gull.
25 April- the long staying adult Little Gull spent it last day with us, it was much healthier when it departed.
26 April- Lesser Whitethroat singing, Greenshank, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 male Redstart.
27 April- 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Swift, 40 Sand Martin NE, 1 Yellow Wagtail NE, 2 Tree Pipit NE, drake Pochard, a superb drake Garganey feeding on willow down seeds on South Lake late afternoon + a lone female in breeding habitat.
*RED-THROATED DIVER*- one picked up flying over Severn at 4pm (seen whilst repairing fences), it circled the estuary about five times before climbing very high and headed SW. Fourth record for the reserve after birds in 1957, 1969 and 2008, another record from ‘our section’ of the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal in 1987.
28 April- Red Kite, 7 Common or Arctic Terns NE (probably the latter), 3 singing male Cuckoo, 2cy Med Gull, 51 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 3 Grey Plover, 10 Ringed Plover, 33 Bar-tailed Godwit.
29 April- 25+ Swift, 1 G W Egret, c36 Whimbrel NE, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. 1 Yellow Wagtail over NE, Red Kite, Common Sandpiper.
30 April- two Wheatear, 40 Sand Martins, drake Pochard.
1 May- 3 Wheatear
2 May- passage of Swifts.
3 May- 40 Swift, 8,1 and 15 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Ruff, 1 Common Tern.
4 May- 1 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 5 Hobby, 24 and 1 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover.
5 May- passage of Swifts, Swallows and Martins, 9 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 14 Ringed Plover, 35 Dunlin,1 Wheatear, 5 Hobby.
6 May- 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling, 5 Hobby.
7 May- 1 Willow Warbler, drake Garganey, Wheatear, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 30 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 18 Little Egret.
8 May- drake Garganey, 2 Med Gull.
9 May- no records.
10 May- Garganey, 2 Pink-footed Geese (late record, no doubt driven in by the extreme weather) 1 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel, 50 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin.
11 May- Bar-tailed Godwit on SL, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin, male Goldeneye visiting the Grounds!
12 May- 5 Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whimbrel and 8 Hobby, 1 Red Kite NE.
13 May- 1 Whimbrel, 1 Red Kite N.
14 May- 2 Hobby.
15 May- Bittern seen in flight, 4 Hobby.
19 May- 2cy Mediterranean Gull, 8 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 6 Dunlin
20 May- 2 Sanderling, 14 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin, 2 Hobby.
21 May- 42 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, 36 Sanderling. Brood of 7 Shelduck-lings on the estuary.
22 May- two female Marsh Harrier, 2 Little Tern flew S down the estuary, a first summer and adult Kittiwake also blown in over the tide.
23 May- Common Scoter seen on the Severn off Middle Point
24 May-A Swift was around the Sloane Tower early morning, Common Scoter, drake still on the Severn, new brood of 11 Shelduck-lings off Frampton Breakwater. 5 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover and 22 Dunlin (a few distinctive arctica race birds among the shinzii).
25 May- first brood of Gadwall on the TNP (6 ducklings), brood of 8 Shelduck on the Rushy. Two 2cy Med Gulls,
26 May- Partially breeding plumage Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Sanderling, 49 Ringed Plover, 21 Dunlin and Turnstone. Adult and two 2cy Mediterranean Gulls.
27 May- Great White Egret, 1 Snipe, 15 Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, 15 Red Knot, 15 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, female Marsh Harrier. A second brood of 6+ Gadwall. Pair of Common Tern, 3 Great Crested Grebe.
