Although the local weather forecast looks bad every day (again!) this week, we actually had a really nice sunny, hot spell for a large part of the day.We were taking a group of children from Keech, in Luton, down the main path to experience the reserve and in a short time we had seen ravens, two lovely linnets on the fence, a family party of goldcrests, green woodpeckers, coal tits and a kestrel. Before the children arrived, a jay had taken umbrage that a buzzard was passing low over the Gatehouse, and noisily scolded it away. Spotted flycatchers are still being seen and a garden warbler foraged through the trees beside the Gatehouse lawn. Several visitors have commented on seeing siskins recently and we had another report of one feeding at the hide today. Although regular winter visitors, siskins are much less common here in the summer months.
Finally, a lucky visitor reported seeing a nightjar, flying low around the new heath at 9am on Sunday morning.This comes a week after one was heard 'churring', also on the new heath. Is this the same bird, or another one passing through?..........