Black-necked Grebe (podiceps nigricollis) taken on 5th June from Sybil Hogg Hide, No3 Bed

On a pleasant morning Les Jones and I watched 9 Black-necked Grebe chicks busily feeding, along with 6 adults. Other sightings included: One Grasshopper Warbler, 121 Gadwall, 43 Coot, 3 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 15 Pochard, 3 Moorhens, 31 Canada Geese, 2 Lapwings, 4 Little Grebes, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Mallard, c.300 Black-headed Gulls, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 5 Song Thrushes, 3 Collared Doves, 4 Bullfinches, 2 Kestrels, 4 Common Buzzards, 1 Treecreeper (caught by the ringers), 80 Swifts, 7 Swallows, 1 House Martin, plus plenty of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats.

Cheers David

Gatekeeper feeding on a thistle. Taken on 30-July-2011 on the path leading from the bridge

An excellent morning with Dave Steel, Les Jones and Dave Riley, completing a breeding bird survey of Nos.1 and 2 beds before ending up on No.3 bed, just as the rain came down. Highlights were to see that Little Ringed Plover, Peregrine and Kestrel were still catering to their young, despite the weather, while a Lesser Whitethroat in song on No.2 bed was good to hear. Two Mediterranean Gulls flew over No.3 bed, as reported by Kieran Foster, though we didn’t relocate them. The odd butterfly put in an appearence, with 2 Common Blues, and singles of Meadow Brown and Small Tortoiseshell.

Cheers David

A number of varieties of orchids are currently in flower on the reserve. These include Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and many Marsh Orchids. Also the pair of Mute Swans on the loop of No.4 bed now have at least three young.

With fine,warm weather for the first time in at least a week birds were everywhere.Brian M and Dave Hackett met up and carried out a detailed count of Black-necked Grebes on No3 bed.In all 17 adults and at least 18 young were found including a new brood in front of the Linley Hide.This is beleived to be the 11th brood!This is proving to be the best breeding season for the BNGs for several years.Four full grown independent young were present.In addition a newly hatched brood of Great crested Grebes were on the centre pool(2 tiny young)and a brood of 2 small Little Grebe chicks at the Linley hide.A Kingfisher was watched feeding on the river below the Hogg hide.

An enjoyable morning with the rain holding off and a total of 68 species seen. despite the recent poor weather some species have managed to breed successfully. As well as the 10 broods of Black-necked Grebes already reported, Peregrine Falcon, Kingfisher, Little Ringed Plover and Kestrel were all actively attending to young this morning. Other interesting sightings included 1 Green Woodpecker, 130 Swifts and 2 Garden Warblers in song.

Cheers David

I spent over 4 hours in poor conditions monitoring Black-necked Grebe broods.In all,I found a total of 19 adults and a minimum of 16 young.This included probably 2 new broods.One of the young was independent and feeding itself.An amazing year and what amazing birds for coping so well with the worst summer in years.At least it has been reasonably warm which must have helped.I believe that almost certainly 10 prs have bred.In addition, a brood of 8 recently hatched Tufted young to add to the first Tufted brood of 14/6.The first brood of Great crested grebe on No3 appeared yesterday,just one young

Reserve-wide totals included 98 Gadwall and 15 Coot broods. Butterflies included Small Copper, Common Blue and Large Skipper; also my first Painted Lady and Meadow Brown of the year.

Two Yellow Wagtails in front of the Morgan Hide at 7.00pm today were a surprise as they are very scarce at Woolston, despite breeding not too far away. 16 Black-necked Grebes were feeding 12 young at various stages of development, making for excellent views. Several Pochard broods were evident, along with broods of Water Rail, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Coot, Canada Goose and Moorhen. A dozen or so large Black-headed Gull chicks were survivors of the few nests which weren’t washed out during the rainy spell but plenty of adults have relaid and are now sitting. 90 Starlings dropped in at 8.00 pm, presumably the start of a summer roost.

Cheers David

Superb day for Black-necked Grebes.At least 8,possibly 9 broods including 2 newly hatched broods-one on NW pool believed to be 3 yng-and one of 2 yng from centre hide.A brood of 2 tiny yng on east pool may have been the new brood seen a couple of days ago.Total of 16 adults and 14 young.How well they have coped with the awful weather of the past 2 or 3 days.

Today’s highlights were two Little Ringed Plovers, a Hobby, 13 Black-necked Grebes (6 pairs feeding 9 young plus a single adult), a new brood of Water Rails, a pair of Kingfishers with young and 2 Willow Tits. All except the Little Ringed Plovers were on or around No.3 bed.

Cheers David

A single Little Egret was feeding on the new pool on No.1 bed, yesterday, Monday 4th June.

Cheers David Bowman

5 broods of Black-necked Grebe to day-4of2 and one of 3.From behavior of another bird a sixth brood is imminent.A new brrod of Pochard on No3 bed(10 yng) and 2 broods of Grey lag Goose.