A male red-footed falcon was seen from the Hooker’s pits viewpoint at about 5 pm on Sunday but not seen again.
There were brief sightings of purple heron and bittern throughout the weekend. A spoonbill paid a visit to Burrowes pit again on Saturday. Also of note were eight hobbies, several bearded tits and two singing lesser whitethroats.
Avian highlights over the past few days have included Red Kite, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Peregrine, Spoonbill and Bittern at Castle Water. On Harbour farm Pools Little Ringed Plover, lots of Avocets many with chicks, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Two Little Tern can still be found along Shore Ridges or on the Quarry, an Arctic Skua was chasing terns offshore.
These hoverflies are bumblebee mimics and come in many colour variations, over the past week I have found them at several locations around the reserve. The red or white tailed forms appear to be the most common in my garden at the moment. The larva of these hoverflies live in the bulbs of daffodils, bluebells and other plants and can cause serious damage, english names for this hoverfly include Narcissus-fly and Greater Bulb-fly.
