Fantastic warm spring day here yesterday - an adult night heron was found by a visitor at about 10.30 and it then appeared on the north brooks a few times, though elusive. There was also a redstart singing on the southern edge of the heath and a spotted flycathcer singing (well, faintly squeaking) from the trees near Jupp's view.
In the evening, I led a walk to look for nightjars - we had great views of at least 2 males around 'the clump' at about 21.30, calling, wing-clapping and of course churring. Whilst waiting for the nightjars, chirping in the gloom nearby was a field cricket, a rare species recently translocated to PB. A few pipistrelles and a serotine bat passed nearby/overhead according to the bat detectors. Lost a fair amount of blood to the local midges, but well worth it on such a beautiful warm, still evening - it was still 24C at 22.30!
Drake garganey still present on north brooks today (best seen from hanger viewpoint or Nettley's hide) though apparently disappears for long periods! Hobbies have been hunting over the brooks in the last couple of days - again the best place to watch this aerial display has been the hanger.
Nightingales still singing, along with most of the other spring migrants - blackcaps, garden warblers and whitethroats.
The warm weather (finally) has brought a few dragonflies - hairy drag', broad-bodied and four-spotted chasers plus 2 or 3 species of damselfly.
No news of garganey today, but a short-eared owl was seen on the north brooks. Judging by the squeaking/chattering noises coming from a few tree holes around the trail it won't be long before young great spotted woodpeckers start appearing. Busy parent woodpeckers have been noted visiting a number nest sites in recent days.
Two very splendid-looking drake garganey on the north brooks today togther with gadwall, tufted duck, shelduck, teal, and shoveler, plus a small group of passage waders - 8 ringed plover and 2 dunlin. Three or four hobbies over the south brooks plus nightingales, garden warblers, whitethroats, blackcaps and willow warbler in song around the trail.
An osprey was over the north brooks at midday yesterday, appearing at precisely the same time as a guided walk I was leading arrived at the hanger viewpiont. Very convenient. It circled a few times, gained height and headed off to the north. Jon and Hans (who found the osprey), then topped that by finding 2 white storks soaring high over the reserve mid-afternoon. Other stuff of note around the site included a water vole again from winpenny hide, single male wigeon, 3 or 4 buzzrds, 2 or 3 hobbies, just-fledged long-tailed tits and treecreepers, plus many singing whitethroats, blackcaps and nightingales.
After completely failing to find any garden warblers or spotted flycatchers on the walk yesterday, first thing this morning I found four garden warblers singing at various points around the trail and a pair of spotted flycatchers in the woodland near the black pond.