On a warm, calm morning, Dave Steel and I concentrated on No.3 bed. We are in the process of lowering the water levels on the bed, in preparation for the imminent work on reed-bed restoration, which should be good for wader passage. So, it was pleasing when a Greenshank stopped and fed briefly and a Curlew flew over calling. In addition, maybe also attracted by the shallower water, four Black-necked Grebes (2 adults and 2 juveniles) were present when we would normally have expected them to have moved on by now. Fifty-four species were seen, in all.

Other counts included: 2 Water Rails, 5 Willow Tits, 1 Siskin, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 2 Swifts, 2 Common Gulls, 27 Moorhens, 13 Cormorants, 8 House Sparrows (near the Old Pumphouse), 14 Chiffchaffs, c.100 Greenfinch, 10 Pheasants, 11 Tufted Duck, 12 Little Grebes, 5 Grey Herons, 49 Lapwings, 3 Sparrowhawks, 6 Common Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 14 Chaffinches, 165 Gadwall, 4 Mute Swans, 7 Pochard, 13 Canada Geese, 23 House Martins, 9 Swallows, 3 Sand Martins, 11 Great Tits, 9 Blue Tits, 5 Reed Buntings, 65 Wood Pigeons, 13 Magpies, 21 Jays, 6 Reed Warblers, 6 Starlings, 5 Dunnocks, 82 Coot, 11 Teal, 13 Mallards, 7 Blackbirds (inc. 1 carrying food), 12 Blackcaps, 4 Willow Warblers, 3 Wrens, 18 Robins, 10 Bullfinches, 6 Carrion Crows, 8 Whitethroats, 25 Goldfinches, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 5 Black-headed Gulls (inc. a pair feeding large young). Cheers David

Butterflies are still present in good numbers. A series of visits during the past week produced the following reserve-wide totals; 329 Peacocks, 156 Gatekeepers, 310 Meadow Browns, 26 Small Coppers (a record count for Woolston),21 Common Blues, 17 Speckled Woods, 6 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas, 1 Red Admiral and a Painted Lady.

Peacock butterflies have emerged in large numbers during the past week and so far over 200 have been recorded. Meadow Browns have also been present in record numbers with 500 found across the reserve. This morning a Painted Lady was present on No.1 bed. In addition a young Buzzard was found on the track. It allowed me to approach within a couple of yards without flying off and I suspected it may have been injured. After I had passed however it did fly off low into nearby trees.

A good day for migration, with a Pied Flycatcher and 5 Garden Warblers ringed by Kieran Foster, Jason Atkinson et al on No.3 bed and a Spotted Flycatcher feeding contentedly on Butchersfield Tip during a Migration Watch by Dave Steel, Les Jones and myself. Other good counts during our five hour vigil from the Tip included: 5 Siskins, 1 Redpoll, 60 Swifts, 86 Swallows, 242 House Martins, 112 Goldfinches, 40 Linnets plus all the other regular species.

Cheers David

Hover Fly - Epistrophe grossulariae No3 Bed

Little Egret- Egretta garzetta from Centre Hide No3 Bed

Another lovely, sunny morning on No.3 bed, with plenty of birds (59 species), butterflies (8 species) and dragonflies (3 species) to keep us occupied. Highlights were: 3 Black-tailed Godwits, which stopped briefly before continuing west, 6 Pintail which came in and stayed, a Hobby, 3 Kingfishers, 1 Snipe, 3 Willow Tits, 2 juvenile Water Rails, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats feeding by the Morgan Hide and 2 juvenile Black-necked Grebes which came out of cover as the morning wore on. 2 Commas and 2 Broad-bodied Chasers seen along with many of our commoner butterflies and dragonflies.

Other counts included: 8 House Sparrows (on the Canal track), 1 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 18 Black-headed Gulls, 11 Moorhens, 8 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 8 Carrion Crows, 9 Jays, 5 Pochard, 45 Greenfinches, 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Teal, 20 Chiffchaffs, 25 Blue Tits, 16 Great Tits, 7 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Magpies, 3 Pheasants, 2 Goldfinches, 1 Blackcap, 5 Bullfinches, 4 Reed Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 4 Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, 130 Gadwall,76 Coot, 23 Mallard, 6 Cormorants, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 5 Shoveler, 2 Swifts, 6 Swallows, 8 House Martins, 10 Chaffinches, 5 Reed Buntings, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove, 40 Wood Pigeons, 14 Lapwing, 3 Song Thrushes,4 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 3 Mute Swans and 21 Feral Pigeons.

Les Jones and I took advantage of the current spell of fine weather to search for Purple Hairstreaks this evening. We were later joined by David Spencer and found a total of 14 butterflies. Of these, nine were seen from the canal track to the west of the bund, three on trees on either side of the entrance to No.3 bed (viewed from the canal track and bridge) and a further two on the large oak tree between the screen and the Sybil Hogg Hide.

Still two juvenile Black-necked Grebes present, along with Kingfisher, Water Rail, 4 Garden Warblers (ringed by Kieran Foster et al), 6 Swallows, 20 House Martins and 2 Sparrowhawks.

Cheers David

Three Purple Hairstreaks were found on Tuesday evening on oak trees on the canal track just west of the bund. Although it was not sunny the weather was warm and still. This is the first sighting this year and any others would be very welcome. Today a search of Nos 1.2 and 4 beds produced some excellent totals as butterflies finally begin to make an appearance after months of bad weather. Highlights were 373 Gatekeeper, 315 Meadow Brown, 9 Small Copper, 12 Common Blue, 1 Large Skipper, 3 Small Skipper, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 21 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue and a female Brimstone. An estimated 40+ Green-veined White,4 Large and 4 Small Whites completed the count

Two Green Sandpipers, one Hobby and three Black-necked Grebes (an adult and two young)were this morning’s highlights. Despite the weather forecast, it was warm and sunny, with plenty of birds moving. Les Jones and I joined up with Kieran Foster on No.3 Bed and other good sightings included: 1 Water Rail,1 Common Snipe, 23 Mistle Thrushes flying east, 45 House Martins, 64 Swifts, 2 Swallows, 2 Willow Tits, 7 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, 1 Kestrel, 1 Shelduck, 140 Gadwall, 82 Coot, 28 Lapwing, 4 Song Thrushes, 8 Shoveler and 6 Teal.

Cheers David

An interesting sighting reported this morning - a Bittern on No.3 Bed seen from one of the hides.