Brakes end spring migration

Oystercatcher (Mark Clarke)

Common Terns & Dunlin

Stunning colours around the pits

Bee Orchids

Morning in Straford

Reed Warbler 

Another Canada brood

Common Terns

After a brilliant two weeks at the pits it was a case of the business as usual over the weekend. I managed to get four visits in due to some extended leave from work.

On Friday we recorded our second Curlew of the year (Mark Clarke) whilst a pair of Teal emerged or returned to their regular haunt on the west side of the main pit. Other records were 40 Swift, 3 Sand Martin & 10 House Martin.

Saturday saw an impressive count of 120 Swifts over the main pit whilst a good number of Bee Orchids could be seen along the east bank. 5 Lapwings were the only other notable sighting.

Two Dunlin were feeding on the main spit on Sunday with the regular Common Terns also present. 70 Swifts were low over Pophills that continues to be quiet due to high water levels. Matt Griffiths completed a Little Grebe survey & recorded 12 grebes but no chicks. He did however see a Green Sandpiper on the old works lagoon. After my own checks I headed to Stratford where I did see 2 Eagle & a Tawny Owl. All of them at Warwickshire Bird of Prey Rescue stall trying to raise funds for future projects. 

Final day of the long weekend saw the mother Sparrowhawk start the session well with her literarly flying straight through the large oak for an early breakfast. The Terns were present this year again as were the Teal. More broods are emerging of wildfowl on every visit, our first two Gadwall duckings were out enjoying the water.

The best news of the weekend was a Lapwing chick that I scoped. There may be more than one as the chick was not emerging from cover very often.

I have updated the pits year list, now 120 for the year.