Wednesday June 24th to Friday July 3rd

Note: I've been unable to update the blog for the past few weeks. I hope to catch up over the next few days with a week at a time.

Wednesday June 24th

Richard Horton reported a Little Egret, Green Sandpiper and 14 Lapwing present in the Workings.

Thursday June 25th

John Hunt reported a Redshank, 4+ Little Ringed Plover and 8+ Lapwing present this morning, plus a Hobby hunting hirundines over the Workings, Kestrel and Red Kite.

At least 6 Common Tern chicks and 1 Black-headed Gull chick were seen on the tern rafts in the Workings. Lots of Marbled White butterflies were seen in the Meadow.

(c) John Hunt, Beautiful Demoiselle

(c) John Hunt, Common Blue Damselfly

(c) John Hunt, Large Skipper Butterfly

(c) John Hunt, Marbled White Butterfly

(c) John Hunt, Red Admiral Butterfly

(c) John Hunt, Ringlet Butterfly

(c) John Hunt, Small Heath Butterfly

(c) John Hunt, Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Friday June 26th

Andy Little reported a Hobby, 7 Little Ringed Plover and a Redshank present in the Workings.

Richard Horton reported a Woodcock flying over late in the evening. This is only the third recorded sighting for the site.

(c) Grim Styles, Fasciated Thistle

(c) Grim Styles, Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata)

Saturday June 27th

Kevin Duncan reported that a Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and Redshank were present first thing. The first brood of Peacock Butterfly caterpillars was also noted today.

(c) Grim Styles, White Melilot (Melilotus albus)

Sunday June 28th

John Hunt reported 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, 14 Lapwing and 2 Red Kite were present first thing. 5 Common Tern chicks were counted.

Richard Horton reported a Common Sandpiper in the Workings.

(c) John Hunt, Chiffchaff

(c) John Hunt, Lapwing

(c) John Hunt, Redshank

(c) John Hunt, Whitethroat

Mark Elsoffer & Steve Minhinnick visited in the afternoon and reported 3 Nightingale, 1 Hobby, 1 Redshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 15 Lapwing, 1 Little Egret & 2 Ringed Plover.

The following broods of young were counted:
- Greenfinch: a single juvenile in the Woods.
- Chiffchaff: one brood of 2 in the Woods.
- Blackbird: one brood of 3 in the Woods.
- Song Thrush: a single juvenile in the Woods.
- Pied Wagtail: one brood of 3 on the margins of the Workings.
- Black Cap: one brood of 2 in the Woods.
- Starling: a mixed flock of 100 on the margins of the Workings.
- Coot: three broods of 2, 2 & 1 on the Workings.
- Common Tern: 4 chicks on a tern raft in the Workings.
- Black-headed Gull: 3 chicks on a tern raft in the Workings. 2 single older chicks on the margins of the Workings.

A butterfly count around Horton's Mound produced: 2 Speckled Wood, 4 Cabbage White, 1 Marbled White, 3 Ringlet, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Painted Lady, 5 Small Skipper and 2 broods of Peacock caterpillars.

3 Roe Deer were seen in the Meadow. 2 Slow Worms were seen on Horton's Mound.

(c) Mark Elsoffer, Little Ringed Plover

(c) Mark Elsoffer, Tufted Ducks

(c) Mark Elsoffer, Grey Herons

(c) Mark Elsoffer, Slow Worms

(c) Steve Minhinnick, Ladybird Eating Aphids

(c) Steve Minhinnick, Common Blue Damselfly

(c) Steve Minhinnick, Ringlet Butterfly

Monday June 29th

Kevin Duncan reported that 2 Ringed Plovers were still present that evening. Another pair of Common Terns have hatched chicks, this time on a gravel island in the Workings. The remaining 4 pairs will hopefully hatch soon.

Grim Styles watched this hot air balloon briefly land in the Meadow this evening.

(c) Grim Styles, Hot Air Balloon

Tuesday June 30th

No reports.

Wednesday July 1st

Carey Lodge reported a Green Sandpiper on the A31 bank on the far side of the Workings.

Thursday July 2nd

No reports.

Friday July 3rd

Kevin Duncan reported 3 Green Sandpipers in the Workings this morning. Another pair of Common Terns have hatched chicks on the gravel island in the Workings.

Dave Baker reported 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper in the Workings this evening. 2 Painted Lady butterflies were seen along the River Blackwater.