Saturday 20 August 2016

Well into August

Had been waiting for something to happen before doing a post and maybe with stormy weather this weekend it will, but so far it has been a quiet month.
Star bird was a juvenile cuckoo which made a brief visit to the wetland last Saturday.
Otherwise pretty thin pickings, an adult lesser whitethroat at the wetland on 1st, the odd willow warbler, and passing swifts.  Our swift had left by the end of July but passage birds were apparent for the first 10 days of Aug, with best count of 20 on 3rd. (also a flock of 11 at i54 last sunday must surely have passed thru the valley.
As far as breeding is concerned sir Geoffrey has confirmed the third moorhen brood at the wetland, though they are very hard to see and 2nd brood of great crested grebe at pool hall.  Recently fledged
birds indicate 2nd broods of blackbird, song thrush, chiffchaff (5 birds feeding on last years bulrushes at wetland) robin and dunnock.
Calling kestrel and raven at castlecroft bridge raise hopes of breeding.
Only one parakeet sighting high over paddock coming from ridge and a similar report.
Southern and migrant hawker dragonflies.

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