These last few days take us into July so what action is coming our way in July.
Well, lets start with those waders. The arrival of those spotted redshank a few weeks ago started the wader season at Blacktoft - Now there are eight of these smart looking birds, still in summer plumage (see picture below). Waders will continue to increase throughout this month with waders passing through on migration from now right through to September. Today we had 8 spotted redshank, 5 green sandpiper, ruff, redshank, lapwing and curlew. With close views on the lagoons, Blacktoft Sands is a great place to learn your waders. We also have some wader events run by expert guides running throughout this time, check them out here.
Here is a spotted redshank
And here is a green sandpiper
Next up for July, is the sight of our young marsh harriers learning to fly or maybe just wait for their parents to bring food for them. We are expecting our first sighting of one of this years young marsh harriers in the next week or so. Just keep checking the blog for updates. Here is a picture taken last year.
Other birds to look out for include little egrets on our lagoons and signs of water rail on our lagoons. We had up 5 little egrets at the weekend and views of a water rail with 4 very small chicks on marshland. And remember we have many other breeding birds like all those warblers around the reserve right now.
Recent wader highlights have included 11 Black tailed godwits, greenshank, 8 spotted redshank, 4 green snadpiper, bar tailed godwit (flyover), 6 little ringed plover, 2 ruff. (mostly on Ousefleet so bring your scope!)
Other bird highlights (since sunday) - Hobby, 5 little egret, med gull, up to 5 beardies at singleton, sandwich tern 2 today, yellow wagtail, and singing savis warbler still from singleton but distant.
Wildlife highlights: A beautiful roe deer with very young fawn, A massive emergance of Ringlet butterflies, and a few hornets starting to appear. Lots of other interesting other insects in the humid conditions.
Today in the rain good mix of waders first thing but then an amazing seventeen common sandpipers on Xerox!