The long hot spring spell continued for the second consecutive bank holiday weekend. With warm easterlies continuing and thunderstorms forecast there were grounds for local optimism and so I spent a few hours each day on patch. Both Saturday and Sunday were disapointing, with just the recently resident Black-tailed Godwit flock (currently c40 birds but constantly changing numbers) and at least two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers seemingly settling to breed. A single Redshank persists quietly at the back of Ashton’s, suggesting there is a nest deep in there somewhere. About five pairs of Lapwings appear to have failed on there too, as usual, but one or two pairs setting up on Neumann’s Stilt Island gives us some hope yet.
On the bank holiday, Greg found 2
Avocets and the first
Ringed Plover of the year on Neumann’s, so a return trip was required. The avocets were busily feeding round the back of Stilt Island and looking rather resplendent; surely this species will breed on patch soon?
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| Patch avocets. Once a real local rarity, now a few records annually. Up to four pairs of great crested grebes nesting on Neumann's too - it was unheard of to see a grebe on here a decade ago so water conditions must be changing too. |
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| Black-tailed godwit flock |
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| Shelduck pair |
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| Reed warbler |
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