Dave Riley was joined by Mike Baron on the Wednesday and Saturday on No1 bed. On the Wednesday, 56 birds were caught with 32 new including the first Coal Tit of the year for the bed and amongst the retraps was a Reed Warbler first ringed on 25th July 2008.

After a murky start on the Saturday, ringing finally got underway at 7am, and 34 birds were caught with the 18 new including 9 Chiffchaffs, amongst the retraps was a female Chaffinch ringed as a 5 on 25th February 2005 and only caught twice since then.

On No3 bed, Mike Miles was also out on the Wednesday while Kieran Foster, Margaret Rawlins and Jason Atkinson were out on the Saturday. Over the two sessions, 114 birds were caught with 45 new, they seem to be well on top of the Great Tit population though, with just two new birds amongst the 38 handled.

Dave Riley was on No1 bed on the Wednesday (to try out a new net ride), Friday evening and Saturday morning. In the 90 mins he was present on the Wednesday, he caught seven birds with the five new including his first juvenile Great Tits of the year. On the Friday, 24 birds were caught including 19 new amongst which were the first juveniles of Blue Tit (1), Willow Tit (4), Wren (1) and Chaffinch (1), while the two Reed Warblers were the first new birds to be ringed on the bed this year. Saturday morning produced another 32 birds with the 24 new including anoth 2 Willow Tits.

Mike miles was on No3 bed on the Friday afternoon when he caught 54 birds with 18 new, on the Saturday morning he was joined by Kieran Foster, Margaret Rawlins, Chris Piner and Justin. They caught 145 birds with 77 new including 14 Whitethroats, amongst the retraps was a Reed Warbler originally ringed in 20009, retrapped in 2010 and 2011, but not since. Sightings during the session included an Oystercatcher, Kingfisher and Banded Demoiselle which is an uncommon visitor to the bed.

Other sightings in the week included: 136 Gadwall (with 174 on 20th) and two Oystercatchers on 16th, 82 Meadow Browns (20th), Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Darter, Azure, Emerald, Blue-tailed, Red-eyed and Common Blue Damselflies, along with Banded Demoiselle on 21st.

The only ringing at Woolston this week was on No.3 bed this morning when Kieran Foster, Margaret Rawlins, Mike Baron, Justin and Mike Miles ran 18 nets in conditions that were favourable early on (calm and overcast), but became breezy with bright sun later. In the conditions their 110 captures was a good return. With more juveniles out of the nest the balance is moving towards new birds ringed ( 63 new and 47 retraps). They caught their first juveniles of Blackcap and Song Thrush and their first bird, a Robin, starting post-juvenile moult.

The only sightings of note were of a Grasshopper Warbler and a Little Ringed Plover on No3 bed on 5th.

No.3 bed.Thorough survey of Black-necked Grebes found a minimum of nine broods with 16 adults and 10 young including one full grown independent juvenile.Adult Shelduck with 9 growing young. Pair of Greylag geese with 2 near full grown young and many Canada geese including 8 well grown young of various sizes.Despite many Black-headed Gull chicks having been taken by Lesser black backs during past month over 50 full grown juveniles on scrapes majority having fledged. At least 15 Broad-leaved Helleborines found though none in flower yet.

Despite the odd bit of drizzle, we had another productive morning, covering Nos.1, 3 and 4 beds. Highlights were: plenty of Black-necked Grebes with young, a Garden Warbler in full song, 4 Little Ringed Plovers (inc. 2 flying young), 2 returning Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Ruddy Duck, 2 Kingfishers and proving breeding for the Peregrines.

Photo of a Bee Orchid from No.4 bed

Cheers David (with Dave Steel, David Spencer, Al Warford, Paul Hazlehurst, Brian Baird, Les Jones, Dave Goulding and Helen Allan)

After another go at pulling Himalayan Balsam on No.3 bed, Al Warford and I spent a relaxed couple of hours scanning the broods on No.3 bed. It’s already looking like a decent breeding season, with a 7th brood of Black-necked Grebes appearing, a good handful of Pochard and Tufted broods, a new brood of Little Grebes and 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers likely to have bred across the whole reserve.

Cheers David

Whitethroat - female

Jumping amongst the Cow Parsley on Bed 3 in the early morning light

Reed Warbler fledgling…

Waiting to be fed, on Bed 3

Sunlight shining through sycamore maple leaves

Wildflower Meadow and Four Spotted Chaser

Lovely warm weather and lots of Butterflies on the reserve. Plenty of Tortoiseshells (20+) 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Large White, 3 Small Whites, 1 Admiral. Also spotted 5 blue damselflies, a four spotted chaser, and what I think was a badger than ran right across the path near the south meadow. I heard something creeping along in the grass and then out it came, only to carry on its journey into the woods. Photo is of a small white butterfly.

Flame Carpet moth photp, from No.3 bed yesterday.

Cheers David

Another lovely summer’s day with lots of wildfowl broods to be seen. Also on No.3 bed were 2 Little Ringed Plover and two Tufted Duck broods. Gadwall totalled 174 of which 154 were on No.3 bed. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen to take a Black-headed Gull chick in spite of the close attentions of the adults. Butterflies were plentiful for June and a reserve-wide count of 82 Meadow Brown was hopefully the start of a successful year for this and other high-summer species.

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans), No 3 Bed.

Immature form (rufescens) Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegant) No3 Bed.

Shelduck chick (Tadorna tadorna) taken from the John Morgan hide

Magpie (Pica Pica)taken from the John Morgan Hide

View over the “New Pool” on No.1 bed, looking towards Thelwall Viaduct.

Another very enjoyable morning, first monitoring wildfowl broods on No.3 bed and then counting dragonflies around the "New Pool" on No.1 bed. Still 5 broods of Black-necked Grebes showing well, with more expected by the day. These have been joined by a new brood of Little Grebe and 4 new broods of Tufted Duck. An interesting, though not entirely welcome sighting was of Common Buzzard landing on a Black-headed Gull nest and scoffing the young. I’ve suspected this for a while because of the panic in the gull population whenever a Buzzard passes over but hadn’t observed it till today. On No.1 bed, 2 broods of Kestrel were some compensation for the fact that the Peregrines were showing no signs of having young. Dragonflies were plentiful, though not yet at peak numbers. Species recorded included: Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Darter, Azure, Emerald, Blue-tailed, Red-eyed and Common Blue Damselflies, along with Banded Demoiselle.

Photo of a Large Skipper form No.3 bed today.

Cheers David (along with Paul Hazlehurst, Helen Allan and Ste Dodd)

A hard morning’s Himalayan Balsam pulling on No.3 bed, bracketed by a bit of birding. Mainly counting broods, with 5 of Black-necked Grebe, 3 of Pochard, 1 of Tufted Duck and 2 of Great Crested Grebe being the highlights. Other birds noted were 25 Swifts, 1 Drake Ruddy Duck and 1 Kingfisher.

Cheers David (with David Spencer, Brian Martin, Al Warford, Les Jones and Sue Haddock)

Reed Warbler

Imaged on Bed 3 taking food to fledglings…

No.3 bed Two newly hatched broods of Black-necked Grebes plus 2 adults each feeding one growing chick.A third adult was seen going to the same patch of reeds with food but other adult was out of sight.This represents at least 5 broods to date.A large arrival of Gadwall since yesterday when 43 were present increasing today to a minimum of 136.With many pools out of sight many more could have been present.Four pairs of Great crested Grebes all with young-one on south pool and three others on centre pool.Shelduck pair with 11 young still present.Two Oyster catchers tried to land on raft on north west pool but chased off by Black headed Gulls.

Four-spotted Chaser

Butterflies and dragonflies were plentiful in the sunny conditions including Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four Spotted Chaser, Common Darter, Azure Damselfy, Red -eyed damselfly, Large Skipper (see photo), Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Small White

A Banded Demoiselle by the Rotary Hide today.

Black-headed gull feeding chicks from Morgan Hide

Reed Warbler from the Rotary Hide

A lovely summer’s day with plenty of interest. One of the resident Peregrines was on the viaduct and a Pochard brood on the east pool on no.1 bed. Shelduck on No.3 bed comprised three adults with a total of 15 young. Probably two broods here and a further brood of three on the Loop. Gadwall totalled 100 of which there were 60 on the Loop. About 20 Lapwing were in front of the John Morgan Hide. The first Meadow Browns of the year were on Nos.1 and 4 beds and butterfly totals were 15 Speckled Wood, 27 Common Blue, 6 Large Skipper (an excellent count for Woolston), 7 Meadow Brown, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and a Painted Lady. Photo; Poppies on no.2 bed

Lapwing

Orchids are in flower in the Sandpit Pond area, including a few Bee Orchids. Not many butterflies about as the spring species have more or less finished and the summer broods have not yet emerged. However I found a Painted Lady and a Red Admiral on No.2 bed and a further Red Admiral on No.3 bed. On Sunday last I counted 35 Common Blues and 3 Large Skippers on No.1 bed. Today on No.3 bed the Shelducks still had 11 young and a Lesser Black-backed gull was being harrassed by a Black-headed Gull. Photo; Bee Orchid on No.4 bed

Black-headed Gull

Shelduck chick

Imaged on Bed 3

Northern Lapwing

Male Northern Lapwing on scrapes at Bed 3

A quick visit to No.3 bed this morning produced a Grashopper Warbler reeling and showing well outside the Morgan Hide, plus a Little Ringed Plover on the scrape, c.40 Swifts overhead and another new brood of 8 Pochard.

Cheers David (with Dave Steel)

Tufted duck on island strip No 3 bed

Shelduck with 16 chicks at end of island strip No 3 bed. The swan appeared to be regarded as no threat.

Black-necked Grebe in between two island strips No 3 bed

A second brood of Black-necked grebes(2 young) at Linley hide.30 Mute Swans on bed with 14 adult Black necks seen.70 Tufted Duck(51 males)and 10 Pochard including a brood of 6 small young.Nine Shelduck but no young seen.Four brood of Canada Geese total 17 young,some quite big.Five Little Grebes including a pair feeding one large young in front of Rotary hide.A Grasshopper Warbler reeling near Enviroloo.A Willow Tit calling near Rotary hide.Female Gadwall with 5 small young near south screen.