At Ternery Pool the 500 pairs of Sandwich Tern have raised hundreds of young and these have just started to fledge and leave their nesting island (photo below, young on right). For the next couple of weeks there should will be a collection of young birds, waiting to be fed, just in front of the Crittall Hide, together with some family groups of Mediterranean Gulls, providing lots of opportunity for close study and photography.
A visit to the viewpoint at dawn this morning found four Marsh Harrier, seven Bearded Tit, two Yellow Wagtail and a Turtle Dove purring from the trees around the viewpoint. In addition, a flock of about 60 Lapwing flushed from the islands on Castle Water by the harriers contained three Black-tailed Godwit, while at least five Little Egret and two Cetti’s Warbler were also present.
An interesting visit to Brede High Wood yesterday two dragonfly species provided the highlights, a close look amongst emergent vegetation around a small pond (pictured below) near one of the footpaths produced 12 Southern Hawker exuviae, an adult in the final stages of emergence was still present. This small pond is also supporting Broad-bodied Chaser, Large Red and Azure Damselfly, this is not bad for what is just a muddy puddle with the odd vehicle driving through on occaisions. Golden-ringed Dragonfly were also showing well with three males found patrolling woodland clearings and two exuviae (pictured below) found along the woodland stream by Holmans Meadow.
Southern Hawker with exuvia Read the rest of this entry »