by Andrew (Andy) M Hanby
Green Woodpeckers were easy to see throughout the month and successfully bred again
Photo – Matthew Cormack
‘As is often the case, there was limited excitement to be had on the bird front this month…..’
would be a preface to this month’s round up, similar to the following:
“There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today.” Admiral Lord David Beatty in charge of the 1stBattlecruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland, when two of his ships blew up in quick succession.
Luckily, this magnitude of understatement applies to a happier state of affairs, brought about by the successful fledging of three young Marsh Harriers by a local breeding pair. For a little while, there was some concern that our optimism in this regard was unfounded, but it all came good in the end! Huge thanks to all who put in a great deal of their time monitoring the safety of these birds.
Remarkably, the nest monitors were able to watch these birds with a supporting cast which included up to four different Ospreys on any one day and several making use of (inspecting?) our ‘Osprey platform’. Not to mention alliterogenic agile, aerial acrobatics by Hobby and Bittern flybys.
Loch Garten vibes; recce of the Nosterfield platform by two Osprey Dave Ward
The scene became even more Minsmere-like, arguably even Carmargue-like, on the Reserve with up to 56 Little Egrets and four Great White Egrets. And, yes, it got better with a single Spoonbill on 7th and 20th.
Juvenile Spoonbill Andrew Wappat
Almost inevitably on this background, our first ever Cattle Egrets were located, artistically posed on a tree at Lingham Lake on 8th, before decamping to Flasks Lake from where they made several forays to the cattle-filled fields to the north. Amazingly, another single Cattle Egret was found on the Reserve on 26th, where it set its sights lower and hung around with sheep.
Cattle Egret, Lingham Lake Tim Jones
One of the Great White Egrets was colour-ringed and proved to be a bird of the year from the Somerset levels, where all our previous colour ringed birds have emanated from. This particular individual, with its companions, made a brief excursion up to Northumberland before returning at the end of the month.
Other notables included up to three Wood Sandpipers at the beginning of the month and a turnover of mainly male Common Scoter on Langwith Lake, commencing with 36 on 10th and varying numbers thereafter. These represent a reflection of the North Sea to Irish Sea overland movement, typical at this time of year and often detected by nocturnal sound recordings.
Wood Sandpiper Nathan Beer
A single Sandwich Tern frequented the Reserve on 14th.
Notable lows included no records of partridge, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch or Treecreeper. Eyes peeled for August and September.
Finally, in the ‘fence-hopping’ category was a paired Ruddy and Cape Shelduck, with their four hybrid offspring, on the Reserve on 28th.
A medley of Shelduck Tim Jones
Study of Little Owl, Flasks Lane Gareth Jones