A few highlights from the Rudheath Limebeds from the last few weeks:
The regular male Ringed Plover (with damaged right leg) continues to linger. Up to 7 RP have been present, with lots of display but hard to tell if they've settled to breed or if most of these birds are on passage. Little Ringed Plovers are ever present, with at least 4 pairs settling.
Dunlin numbers were typically ones and two's.
Adult Little Stint on 8th May.
Lapwing chicks started to appear.
An adult Little Gull on 12th May was a surprise given that no others had been reported inland locally. A very welcome patch tick as we missed out during the big April influx this year.
Avocets are back, with up to 5 birds; a pair seemed to settle on 'John's bed' but something soon caused them to abandon. No other evidence of breeding yet, but perhaps there's still time. Certainly at least 6 broods of Lapwing. Redshank present throughout but hard to confirm breeding. There seem to be at least 4 pairs of Little Ringed Plover this year but again confirming numbers is tricky. Ringed Plover chicks only appeared in late June last year, so time there.
Wader passage, up until now at least, has been generally poor everywhere - presumably it's a sign of plummeting populations. To date I've seen just a single Common Sandpiper for example, and there have been no local records of expected species like Turnstone or Sanderling either. Dire.
Even more worryingly, we've had at least half a dozen Black-headed Gulls that appear to be victims of H5N1 (birdflu).
Despite the generally sad news around birds I'm enjoying the patch. It's best not to think on the wider picture it too hard.
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