30th June 2010 - Generally hot and sunny. Light winds.

The best bird of the day was a Little Egret which dropped onto the pools for 10 minutes at around 10.50 a.m., before flying off upstream. The two Shovelers remained and two first-winter Pochards were also on site together with the Wigeon.

In the evening, at least 100 Sand Martins dropped into the Reedbed to roost, and a fox wondered around Car Park Pool in a leisurely way.  Also in the evening a fully fledged Little Ringed Plover joined at least two adults on the islands on Car Park Pool.

29th June 2010 - Hot and muggy with occasional heavy showers

The only news I have for Friday is an increase in Teal numbers to five, the re-finding or return of the drake Wigeon and two Shoveler; and it was confirmed today that there are now three broods of Redshank, a new brood of two plus the older two and one from previous broods.

28th June 2010 - Hot and sunny in the morning, slowly clouding over in the afternoon and periodic heavy showers overnight.

Helpful assessment of counts today by Keith Lidster included one adult Ringed Plover, two adult Little Ringed Plovers, a single Common Sandpiper, two Oystercatchers, six adult and five juvenile Redshanks (suggesting another brood has hatched out), at least 20 Tern chicks and 12 Black-headed Gull chicks, two additional family parties of Tufted with at least 30 young present, still at least 30 Gadwall ducklings, a Kingfisher on the Reed-bed pool and two Hobbies. Four freshly emerged Blackcaps were being fed by an adult on the railway embankment. Two Shoveler and two Teal were seen as well.

27th June 2010 - Hot all day

Similar to yesterday with a single Hobby and an additional male Shoveler the most noteworthy birds of the day.

An Emerald Damselfly showed well around the south-west pond and Butterflies seen around the Reserve included Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Ringlet, Large Skipper and Meadow Brown.

Later in the day an adult Pied Wagtail with two recently fledged youngsters were along the Old Road and 15 Herons on the car park pool was the highest count of the year.

26th June 2010 - Sunny, warm, light south-westerly wind.

In brief, a migrant juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper were new in early morning. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from the wet field just north of the mobile phone mast on the west side of the Reserve, a location from which a bird had not previously been heard. It is possible that this has relocated from the Reserve where there were two early on in the year, but only one has been heard recently.

Graham’s Saturday count included two Great Crested Grebes, six Dabchicks, nine Herons, Black Swan, four adult Mute Swans and four Cygnets, eight adult Greylags and 17 Goslings, 12 adult Gadwalls and 28 ducklings (four broods), a male Shoveler, a male Teal, a male Pochard, 31 adult Mallard and 13 ducklings (two broods), 25 adult Tufted and five ducklings, 27 Coot, six Moorhen, three Oystercatchers, one Ringed Plover, five adult Little Ringed Plovers plus the fledge juvenile mentioned above, 97 adult Lapwing and four youngsters, six adult Redshank and three youngsters, two Hobbies, 40 adult Black-headed Gulls and 13 youngsters, six adult Common Terns and 24 youngsters.

Finally, noticeably less welcome was a Red Eared Terrapin photographed from the causeway.

25th June 2010 - Sunny, warm, light south-westerly wind.

The Grasshopper Warbler reeled away briefly at about 7.15 a.m. and Sedge Warblers were much more active of late as presumably they too are between broods. At least three were singing and showing well between River Hide and Oak Hide, with another singing opposite Oak Hide. At least one each of Redshank and Lapwing chicks were on show, three Oystercatchers flew in to roost on Car Park Pool and a Ringed Plover was flying around and calling actively.

Perhaps of most interest was a brood of recently hatched Coal Tits which were working their way along the central streamline. Birds have been heard occasionally in the conifers on Marsh Lane near the back gate, and it seems likely that they have originated from there.  Coal Tits are a surprisingly scarce bird at Marsh Lane.  Goldfinches and a pair of Linnets were busy around the causeway and a female Teal and a male Shoveler were on Railway Pool.

24th June 2010 - Occasional sunny intervals, warm southerly wind.

A Hobby showed well on at least two occasions during the middle of the day.

In the evening, a helpful assessment by Graham Rowling of the breeding birds found 34 Gadwall ducklings in at least five broods, 12 Tern chicks, three Redshank chicks, four Lapwing chicks and a fledged young on Car Park Pool, possibly from the field. Three Dabchicks, three Little Grebe Chicks on Railway Pool plus a well grown juvenile on Car Park Pool (probably from elsewhere), eight Tufted ducklings with other birds of note including a pair of Teal and a male Shoveler.

23rd June 2010 - Sunny and hot.

On another glorious evening, Starlings were again going to roost but numbers seemed lower than of late, although a precise count was difficult because some birds were still in the oaks and some had already gone to roost. The Grasshopper Warbler was reeling well between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Two Oystercatchers were calling and flying about in the late evening. Whitethroats were feeding young by the Reedbed screen. The Whitethroat opposite the car park also appeared to have young, although they were extremely elusive.

22nd June 2010 - Sunny, light north-easterly wind.

The third family party of Lapwings were present today, with two on the spit, three in front of Oak Hide and still two in the crop field. At least one Black-headed Gull and two Terns have now fledged and are on the wing.

21st June 2010 - Sunny, light north-easterly wind.

The most surprising record of the day was an early returning male Wigeon, which was joined by a female Teal and a female Ruddy Duck. It seems more than possible that the drake Wigeon was the same bird that was present mid-June last year.

An adult and two fledged juvenile Whitethroats were active behind Oak Hide.

20th June 2010 - Sunny, cold northerly wind.

At least 120 Swifts were present in the early morning in the cool wind. The best record of the day, by far, was a flock of 26 Black-tailed Godwits which dropped in at 7.10, preened and washed before departing 20 minutes later. Surprisingly this is not the largest flock that we have had, with the record being 28 that flew over north-west on the 12th April 2004; nevertheless, pretty impressive.

A Tree Creeper which called along the top stream by the top gate was only the second record there for three months after a singing bird was heard in the spring. At least one fledged Chiffchaff was calling by the main gate by the car park and there were two broods of Blue Tits along the Old Road.

19th June 2010 - Sunny, cold and strong north-easterly wind.

The Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the early morning and a Hobby was also present. The cold wind brought down the Swifts with over 100 present in the early morning.

The usual counts were as follows: one Great Crested Grebe, seven Dabchicks, one Cormorant, six adult Mute Swans and four cygnets, four adult Greylags and 12 goslings, two Shelduck, 12 adult Gadwall and 14 ducklings, 23 Mallard, a male Shoveler, a male Pochard, 24 adult Tufteds and eight ducklings, 24 Coot, five Moorhen, three Oystercatchers (no sign of the juveniles which have now fledged and flown), 87 adult and four young Lapwing, five Little Ringed Plover, a single Ringed Plover, nine adult and three juvenile Redshanks, 17 adult Terns but only nine chicks were visible, 15 adult and four juvenile Black-headed Gulls.

The first Ringlet of the year was on the wing and there was a Small Copper around the Dragonfly Pond where a Kingfisher also put in a brief appearance.

18th June 2010 - Overcast with intermittent rain in the afternoon.

The second brood of Gadwall had hatched out with at least 12 ducklings on view today and a male Teal was present again.

The warmer weather encouraged out a variety of Dragonflies and Damselflies and included a Broad-bodied Chaser along the Old Road, at least three Black-tailed Skimmers around the Dragonfly Pond together with three Banded Demoiselles, at least five Emerald Damselflies, three Large Red Damselflies and many Common Blue and Blue-tailed.

In the evening, the Starling roost increased substantially with an estimated 700 to 1000 birds.

17th June 2010 - Cool start, increasingly sunny and warm.

The second returning Green Sandpiper “loitered” around the Car Park Pool islands in the evening, and the Grasshopper Warbler was reeling again intermittently. The year’s first Gadwall brood - of seven ducklings - fed with the slightly older Tufted brood in the centre of Railway Pool, with a certain amount of sparring between the two females.

The Lapwing chicks from earlier in the week are still present and fortunately both of the older Lapwings remain in the crop field, a Tree Sparrow again visited the car park feeder and there were three Shovelers in the evening.

The first Meadow Brown butterfly of the year was on the wing.

16th June 2010

No records of note.

15th June 2010 - Cool start north-westerly wind but sunny all day.

More young birds were found today with the first Redshank brood hatching out on Railway Pool. The six young in two broods were seen during the day but, in the evening, only three could be found in the longer grass.

There was still one Lapwing chick in the field and two new Lapwing chicks on the spit on Railway Pool, whilst Common Tern chicks have now increased to 20.

A male Teal was new in and there were two Shovelers present today as well.

Around 7 p.m., mobbing corvids, Blackbirds and warblers, alerted a few birders to the presence of a Tawny Owl near the south-west pond but the bird quickly disappeared into cover.

14th June 2010 - Sunny intervals, cool north-westerly wind.

During the day, five Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Tree Sparrow visited the Oak Hide feeder during the day.

Nine attended the evening work party and were rewarded by a Hobby chasing Martins over the car park, at least 70 Swifts and Grasshopper Warbler reeling opposite Oak Hide. The warbler presumably stopped singing whilst it had young and has now resumed in advance of the second brood.

Useful work was achieved by those attending, including some spraying of Creeping Thistle, cutting back of vegetation around Railway Hide and the Reedbed causeway screen, some Alder and Willow removal, the sweeping out of the hides on the west side and the repair of the flaps to the causeway screen. Thanks as ever to those that attended.

13th June 2010 - Sunny intervals during the day, progressively clouding over with heavy rain in the evening.

Similar to yesterday with the most noteworthy bird being a Hobby over Railway Pool during the late afternoon.

12th June 2010 - Sunny intervals, cool north-westerly wind.

The weekend counts, as ever helpfully made by Graham Rowling, included the follows: four adults and two well grown Dabchick chicks, seven Herons, six Cormorants, three adult Mute Swans and four cygnets, ten adult Greylags and eight Goslings, 34 Gadwall, 42 Mallard and 18 ducklings (four broods), drake Shoveler and Pochard, 47 Tufted, 22 Coots, five Moorhens, 16 Lapwing and one juvenile still in the crop field, 25 Terns and an impressive 14 young, 18 Black-headed Gulls with two young; of the waders, there were five Little Ringed Plover, a singled Ringed Plover, eight Redshanks, four adult and two juvenile Oystercatchers (the latter nearly fledged).

Other birds of note included an evening roost of at least 400 Starlings in the Reedbed. The Garden Warbler was seen collecting food by the south-west pond during the day.

Butterflies of note included four Large Skippers along the concrete road, Small Copper in the bean field on the west side, along with a significant number of Small Whites and also a Banded Demoiselle there.

11th June 2010 - Overcast grey start, cool, light north-easterly wind.

Of the young birds, there was still at least one Lapwing chick in the crop field and at least six Pheasant chicks around the central streamline. 20 Swifts and the odd House Martin feeding over the central streamline. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were feeding at least two fledged young by Oak Hide.

20 Swifts and the odd House Martin fed over the central streamline in the morning, whilst singing warblers included Chiffchaff (which has now resumed near the car park gates), a Whitethroat by the car park, occasionally roving to the crop field and another along the central streamline.  A Garden Warbler continues to sing well to the rear of Oak Hide. Otherwise, much the same.

10th June 2010 - Overcast, heavy showers, cold blustery north-easterly.

A fine show from the orchids in the field behind Oak Hide - a very impressive 287 Marsh and 40 plus Common Spotted Orchids. For those wishing to see them please take care in the field.

Little change bird wise.

9th June 2010 - Periodic heavy showers, variable winds.

The only record of note in the book was a singing Lesser Whitethroat between Oak and Railway Hide. Birds have been recorded there in the past, but not regularly this year.

8th June 2010 - Periodic heavy showers, variable winds.

The Lapwing pair still have two young in the crop field, and there are now eight Tern chicks and five Black-headed Gull chicks.

The first brood of Tufted Ducks were visible this evening but, of the 11 ducklings, two are more like Mallard or Gadwall. This has happened before and it is suspected that females of other species “dump” eggs in the Tufted nests.

7th June 2010 - Periodic heavy showers, occasional sunny intervals.

A Snipe today was somewhat out of season, but mirrors one at a similar time last year. It seems most likely to be an early returning bird, probably from within this country. Other waders included eight Redshank, seven Little Ringed Plovers, two Ringed Plovers and the two adult Oystercatchers and their two well grown young.

There are now at least four Tern chicks, still two Black-headed Gull chicks, still two Dabchick young and four Mute Swan cygnets and, of the Newark youngsters today, the first juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen around Oak Hide.

70 Sand Martins congregated to feed in the wetter weather. The drake Pochard and Shovelers remain, the warblers are still in song with a Garden Warbler noticeably vocal between Oak and Railway Hide.

6th June 2010 - Starting sunny, progressively clouding over and heavy rain in the afternoon.

Not a great deal different to report. The female Pheasant was seen to have ten young today with the birds still remaining around Oak Hide.  Whitethroats were much in activity today, including a pair carrying food near River Hide.

Two Muntjac showed around the new hides during the afternoon, and the odd Swift showed ahead of the afternoon rain.

5th June 2010 - Sunny and hot.

An early returning Green Sandpiper on Railway Pool did not linger beyond the early morning. The first Tern chicks were seen, with at least four present, and the weekend’s counts included, one Great Crested Grebe, six adult and two juvenile Dabchicks, six Herons, three Cormorants, four adult and four juvenile Mute Swans, 11 Greylags and 12 young, two Shelduck, 24 Mallard, 20 Gadwall, a male Shoveler and a male Pochard, 43 Tufted, 20 Coot, six Moorhen, six adult and two juvenile Oystercatchers, seven Little Ringed Plovers, a single Ringed Plover, 99 Lapwings, seven Redshanks, 12 Black-headed Gulls and two juveniles and 31 Common Terns.

The warm weather brought out the insects with those recorded included Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor Dragonfly, Beautiful Demoiselle and of the Damselflies, Large Red-eye, Blue-tailed Azure and Common Blue. Butterflies included Red Admiral on the Old Road and at least ten Common Blues across the Reserve.

4th June 2010 - No records.

3 June 2010 - Sunny, warm

No sign of the Little Ringed Plovers this morning in the car park and other than the drake Pochard and a flock of about 25 Lapwings on the west shore of car park, there were no unusual birds to record. Plenty of activity from breeding birds however. Still plenty of song.

Later on, a Hobby showed over the streamline briefly at mid-day. Four cygnets hatched out on Railway Pool from the pair of Mute Swans there, and at least eight young Pheasants were in the Marsh. These were presumably the cause of the aggression from the female earlier in the week.

2 June 2010 - Foggy start, slowly clearing, sunny afternoon.

There were no records in the log although I am aware that a pair of Little Ringed Plovers were again trying to lay in the car park but it would appear unsuccessfully.

1 June 2010 - Wet

Despite the wet weather, little new. Three male Shovelers remain as does the drake Pochard and a few Swifts (20) and about 20 mixed hirundines appeared as the rain set in. At least three Reed Warblers fed in the young hedging plants on the central streamline but still no sign of the Cetti’s. Later in the day hirundines increased again - 80 Swifts, 60 House Martins, 30 Sand Martins and 10 Swallows - with Kingfisher, Tree Sparrow and the first Black-headed Gull chick also being seen.