This time of year is usually very quiet avian wise as most of the resident species have settled down to breeding. An early morning visit to the ARC saw a couple of Avocets on a sliver of an island that is now above water, with the continuing dry weather albeit not very summery there should soon be enough islands showing that they might have a try at nesting. So far the seabird rafts around the reserve don't seem to be attracting many sea birds, in fact I didn't see a single Tern on the reserve in the last couple of days.Reed and sedge Warblers numbers appear to be in low numbers as are Common Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats appear to be in good numbers. A bittern was booming at the ARC this morning, also another at Hookers and another at Dengemarsh, Bearded Tit numbers seem to be low this year but there is a pair or 2 at the ARC. The hay fields although looking good don't seem to be attracting many breeding birds, possibly due to to the hordes of Crows, disturbance the farmer moving cattle and and the the seeming ever present sound of strimmers and mowers. The drake Garganey and some times a duck have been showing on the Hayfield 1 along with up to 6 Avocet, notably very few Redshank and Lapwing, though some pairs of Lapwing seem to successful outside the protected areas.
Garganey spooked by a Teal that was spooked by a Coot
Sedge Warbler
Reed Bunting
Marsh Harrier
Lesser Whitethroat
Along the Lydd track plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, also a few Corn buntings and Yellow Wagtails, with Hobbys hawking the ditches.
Skylark in the sunshine
Skylark in cloudy weather
Meadow Pipit
Corn Bunting
Lapwing Chick on the Oxbow
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