Chris Johnston’s most recent report.
Time: 07:35-09:05
Weather: sunny with scattered cloud, light south-easterly breeze, 19°C rising to 21°C.
We have most definitely reached the dog days of summer. The reserve was very quiet on this visit, the first since late April without either a singing Whitethroat or Cetti’s Warbler to enjoy. I didn’t even hear a single Pheasant call in the hour and a half I was there. By contrast, there were butterflies aplenty: Speckled Woods, lots of whites, Red Admirals and a number of Wall Browns along the canal, immediately adjacent to Flora Field. 26 bird species were noted, significantly down on recent visits.
- A Blackcap sang briefly in Pony Wood where 2 Stock Doves were seen overhead.
- The male Reed Bunting was heard in Lower Sower Holme before being seen on the far side of Big Meadow where it showed well. It is definitely the same bird as I watched it fly back across the reserve to where I had first heard it.
- A pair of Pheasants were at Alder Pond where the low water level was clearly visible. A family party of 6 Goldfinches were in the orchard with the young still asking to be fed despite being the same size as the adults. A Chiffchaff was also singing adjacent to the boardwalk by Big Meadow.
- The reedbed area was quiet but both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard near the Cromwell Road entrance.
- Along the canal, 18 Black-headed Gulls were on Ripley Field, a clear sign that they are vacating their breeding grounds. A female Mallard was also present with a late clutch of 6 ducklings.