Still the star bird of the moment is the common crane - some great shots and updates on Erich's
page. It seems that when it is disturbed off Leven or Arram Carrs it takes refuge on Watton Nature Reserve where it was seen again on Monday. Meanwhile we're still getting the occasional osprey record, with two over the O res again on Monday.
We're getting into wader season now with the vanguard of southward bound migrants passing through. Four black tailed godwits this evening resting on south marsh east, with six on the 4th and 7th. Two common sandpipers were present on the 5th with other records of singles regularly. A greenshank dropped in on the 12th and a green sandpiper on South Marsh West on the 5th and Hempholme Meadow on the 13th. As a result we'll be dropping the levels on all the marshes in the coming few days to start exposing some mud for feeding habitat.
Otherwise its the tail end of the breeding season. Marsh harriers are perhaps the best bird on site again on North Marsh - but have perhaps eluded us due to the remote nest site. There's not been much activity of late and an earlier summer would suggest they have fledged already - but we have not seen the results. Buzzards on the other hand have certainly bred - but just outside the reserve - Steve Brimble:
The terns have managed to hatch young; with two chicks on the Watton rafts and at least one chick on the southern marsh new island - John Coish:
And Andy Marshall.
Shelduck have hatched chicks along with this tufted brood on North Pond - Brian Colley:
Chiffchaff by Tony Simpson:
Long tailed tit by Tony:
With sedge:
And reed warbler too:
Likewise Mal Jones:
Barn owls are active feeding their young - incidentally this year sees 50 chicks reared at Tophill Low since the first in 2003 - Tony Simpson:
Nice to see the otter holt getting some use - unfortunately not by intended residents but a handy perch anyway - Tony Simpson:
Roe deer too by Tony:
And the intended ungrateful recipient - still showing regularly if erratically including today - Tony:
Kingfishers are still a crowd pleaser - Eddie Laker snapped this one on the resurrected sign (we thought we'd used it as kindling until we found it in the undergrowth!):
Alan Wrightson:
Mal Jones:
And Tony Simpson:
That said they have a perfected a new technique to fox the photographer - hover hunting rather than perching by Steve Brimble:
A pike in SMW by Dave Ware - not a duck eater yet...
Young roe deer on North Marsh by Steve Brimble:
Puss moth by Dave Ware on Martin's moth trapping event - details
here:
So going forward we're looking at wader season - who knows what may turn up...
