Page 11 - Out Birding August 2022

busy catching insects overhead. Close by an animated juvenile Pied Wagtail practised its bobbing and Greylag Geese herded a troop of goslings.
As we looked for somewhere to have lunch the distinctive sound of a Turtle Dove was heard and eventually, but all too briefly, a pair showed themselves. Sadly, the calling Cuckoo remained elusive. Our picnic on the grass was over-flown by more Stork; inevitably some of us were sitting with our backs to the action (“Behind You!”). Having been sitting on the ground for half an hour, the group displayed many original and some frankly startling approaches to getting upright once again.
Then onward, the sky now a remarkable spectrum of dark greys accompanied by omi- nous rumbles of thunder. After a brief, but heavy, downpour creating some very sticky and muddy paths, the sun broke through once again bringing with it a new chorus of birdsong with a sighting of a rowdy, female Blackcap and a Nightingale.
Our final list count was 41 birds plus various mammals, butterflies/moths, insects and flowers. All our thanks to Carol for organising and leading such an interesting and very sociable, ‘wild’ day.
Our Knepp Estate party comprised: Carol, Lyndsey, Joyce, Peter, Simon, Mark, Chris, Helen, Jo, Michelle, Lynda, Sue, Eva, Lesley, Sim, Martin and Peter.
Peter
RSPB Leighton Moss 04/06/2022
This trip was organised without much notice, so I was delighted when 9 of us met in the car park in the sunshine. Our first stop was the well-stocked feeders, with lots of family groups including fledgling Robin being fed, some scruffy Coal Tit parents and a solitary Nuthatch. On our way to the sky tower we heard the distinctive song of the Chiffchaff and saw it high in the trees.
From the 9 metre sky tower we had a vantage point across the reserve, with female and male Marsh Harrier drifting over the reeds. We had lovely views of a singing Sedge Warbler in a bush with Little Grebe, a pair of Gadwall, and Coot with chicks on the water. From Lilian’s Hide Swifts and Swallows flew over the Black-headed Gulls with their chicks, and there was a fleeting view of an otter.
As we walked through the reserve towards the Causeway Hide, we heard the squeal of a Water Rail and singing Reed Warbler, and saw a Reed Bunting flying over the reeds. Cetti’s Warbler could be heard, but remained elusive. Common blue damsel- flies were out in numbers, making the most of the good weather. From the hide we had good views of Cormorants sitting with their wings outstretched, distant Buzzards and more Marsh Harriers. In the woodland we heard Willow Warbler and Wren, with glimpses of a singing Blackcap. From the Lower Hide, House Martins were feeding over the water, and we had good views of another sedge warbler.
In the reed beds outside the hide a singing Reed Warbler helpfully showed itself, resolving the Reed/Sedge Warbler song debate – and four spotted chaser dragonflies danced on the breeze.
We made our way back to Lilian’s Hide and the café for a much-needed late lunch. In the afternoon we said goodbye to Anne and Maggie and set off for the saltmarsh hides. The Allen Hide overlooked Avocets sweeping their bills gracefully through the water, and a raucous Black-headed Gull colony on the islands. One Avocet valiantly sat on her egg amidst the din, eliciting cries of ‘sit down!’ from us when she got up and left
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