Bits and pieces

13th July - the Yellow-legged Gulls noted in my previous post have been seen most days since then and I had two adults with the second summer on the 7th. Today it was nice to see the first juveniles of the season and there were five YLGs in total with two adults, a second summer plus the two juveniles.  The first juvenile LWHG to appear at this time of year are invariably Yellow-legged, with the first local LBBG juveniles appearing in the next week or two.  At first there was a single juvenile bird which flew off shortly after appearing.  It returned a short while later and a second bird also appeared.  They joined up, and again after very little time on site, both flew off.  A couple of records below, but in low light and about 200 yds away, the focus is a little off.

The first bird

Both juvs together - the second bird had a much lighter head

One of today's adults

There were also six adult Oystercatchers on site today, often flying a round and being very vocal - possibly my largest count of Oycs to date.  Five adult LRPs made up the wader count and despite it being overcast and drizzly and looking very good for some other waders to drop in, nothing did whilst I was there.

Five Linnets flew around the spit early afternoon, with two eventually landing, one a cracking male.  These birds are not common around the lake, though small numbers are seen on the spit occasionally presumably flying in from the arable farmland to the north.  A female Pochard was new in and joined two eclipse male Teal.

Last week, on the 8th, I heard Common Sand calling and then watched a flock of four birds fly in from the river and land on the spit.  They joined a bird that was already present to make a reasonable count for this species.  I do enjoy seeing migrating birds actually arriving on site.

The Common Terns have had a good season and now is a good time to see many fledged juveniles either on the spit or flying around the lake.  There are probably in excess of 20 youngsters if you include those still on the rafts and today there was quite a spectacle of about 30 birds, adults and juveniles, flying in a tight flock and plunge diving - it does give the impression that the adults are teaching the offspring what to do.