Tuesday, 8th July: It was back to summery conditions today, with clear blue skies and just a little light cloud, though also with a fresh and slightly cool NW breeze force 4, taking the edge off the temperature along the coast.
Elmer Rocks: The morning was again dominated by Mediterranean Gulls, with many on the sea or resting on the rock islands, before the majority of them eventually moved off in flocks heading west. A reasonable count/estimate was of at least 350 birds, but totals could have been higher. Interestingly, the species may not have had a good breeding season this year, perhaps abandoning their continental nest sites early and heading for our south coast. I may have missed a few, but I only actually saw one fledged juvenile amongst the flocks today!
A total of ten Sandwich Terns were also seen, most heading west, as did a single Redshank and a Little Egret, whilst seven Oystercatchers were roosting on the rocks on the high tide.
Elmer Rocks this morning: Just some of the Mediterranean Gulls on the rocks, and the sea, whilst (bottom) Oystercatchers were roosting on the rocks...note also the sleeping bird front left, which is actually a juvenile Med Gull and the only one I saw!
Bilsham farm: A good deal more interest and activity on and around the reservoir today than during my last few visits, with early returning birds hinting that birding autumn is almost upon us. Two Common Sandpipers were feeding around the reservoir edges, whilst a striking Black Swan was a surprise, Tufted Duck numbers had increased to eight, and the family foursome of Little Grebes was again present, the young now growing fast.
A female Mallard with a brood of eight very small ducklings was new in, joining another Mallard with a slightly older brood. However, the new brood of little ones kept coming ashore onto the reservoir sides; this had not gone unnoticed by a Kestrel watching closely from the boundary fence - and before long it made a couple of quick swoops to try and take a duckling, but just failed, before the raptor was driven off by a Magpie. Around the hedgerows, a Yellowhammer was singing again from its regular perch, a Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and two Whitethroats were heard, and other species included Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallows, a couple of Jays and two Buzzards.
Black Swan on Bilsham reservoir and (below) Common Sandpipers
Kestrel watching from the boundary fence, and being driven off by a Magpie after an unsuccessful attempt to snatch one of the ducklings below...
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