Elmley

Had a glorious day at Elmley. Along the entrance track Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Yellow Wagtails, Lapwings and Redshanks seemed positively abundant and the air was buzzing with bird song and calls. Round the Kingshill Farm bushes were 2 Hummingbird Hawk Moths, numerous Common Darters had emerged, many Meadow Browns, Large Skippers , Red Admirals and Large Whites . From the toilet block view point the Barn Owls could be seen in there box. Apparently there are 4 Owlets. Along the mile and quarter walk to the hides the sedges held plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers, while the ponds held Great crested and Little Grebes, with more Skylarks Pipits and Wagtails and waders in the fields and Marsh Harriers over them. At Wellmarsh Hide Lots of Black-tailed Godwits and Avocets with plenty of young. As i came out of the hide 6 Spoonbills circled high overhead and disappeared over the Swale. At Counterwall Hide more Godwits and Avocets, also a Turnstone and Common Sandpiper and 10 super summer plumaged Spotted Redshanks. At one of the other hides 3 Spoonbills flew in and landed distantly(not sure if this was an extra 3 or some of the 6 seen earlier). The Avocets semm to have had a bumper breeding season on Elmley this year.

I spent an hour or so looking for the Dainty Damselflys under the bridge but was unsucessful along with few other people.