Best of the rest

In previous years, there has been a reasonably sized loafing flock of LWHG to scan through for scarcer birds.  This year, birds have been much thinner on the ground.  This probably accounts for the smaller number of Yellow-legged Gulls seen and the lack of any juveniles so far.  My first of the season was a 2nd summer bird on June 7th.

This was followed by three adults together when there were only six LWHG on site! One of these is shown below:

Since then there have only been sightings of single adults, which may well be the same bird:

On the wader front, it has been reasonably quiet.  Apart from the scarcer birds already mentioned, there have been a few Dunlin: a s/p adult on July 7th:

Two s/p adults at the end of July that I saw on the 28th:

The following day, one of these had departed as only one was present in the morning, but it was joined during the day by a juvenile.  These two stayed a few days.

Little Ringed Plovers had there usual July build up that peaked at 12 birds mid month, 6 adults and 6 juveniles. My first juvenile was seen on June 28th and was likely to have been bred on site.

Further news on the breeding front is that 4 pairs of Little Egrets raised 9 young between them in broods of 3, 2, 2 and 2.  The Common Terns on the rafts have had another successful year.  Mick M ringed them on June 24th and ringed 21 chicks with a further 8 either too small to ring or able to fly away.  I also saw a Tufted Duck with 3 small ducklings on the July 11th, though only two survived, the first time I've noted successful breeding of this species for a while.

And finally, an owling visit on the 31st July added Tawny Owl to the year list, with a noisy calling juvenile on the NE side of the pit.  No Barn Owls on this side, but two glow worms added to the interest. One recorded below: