Spring in full swing

A trip down to the lagoons this afternoon produced a few interesting observations, not least that the tyre on my bike isn't keeping the air in!!

A few hours observation revealed about 40 species of birds, the highlight for me being Common Tern seemingly displaying and possibly producing a nest scrape on the big lagoon, with the male passing a fish to the female. Four terns visited in total today. Two of the birds were ringed, and will perhaps be able to find out something about their origin.

Lapwing may also be attempting to breed on the smaller lagoon, as two birds are now present. While a single Little Ringed Plover being present may be a sign of breeding nearby.

Unfortunately Avocet don't seem to have settled on the big lagoon this year, with only 1 or 2 pairs seen intermittently.

Shelduck numbers remain around 24 with little signs of breeding, with other wildfowl still present including Mallard (8), Mute Swan (7), Cananda Goose (4 and 4 gosling), Greylag Goose (2) and a single male Gadwall. Coot and Moorhen are also present, but no signs of breeding as yet. The Shoveler pair seem to have gone, and all Teal also seem to have left the site.

Pied Wagtail (1 pr) , Linnet (1pr) , Whitethroat (5 singing males) , Robin (adult feeding young), Meadow Pipit (5pr) , Yellowhammer (2 singing males) , Skylark (3 singing males) and Reed Buting (3 singing males) all seem to be potetial breeders. Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, Lesser Whitethroat, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Swallow are all also potential breeders in and around the lagoons as they have been present regularly throughout the spring.

Passage wader numbers have been light with 23 Greenshank, 5 Common Sandpiper and 7 Whimbrel being the maxima.

Raptors have been represented by Buzzard 2, Sparrowhawk 3, Kestrel 2 and Hobby 1 viewed from the site.

A Hoopoe was present last week, but only seen by 1 person on the Hythe Lagoons site.

Other scarce birds through in recent weeks include a singing male Grashopper Warbler, a hunting Barn Owl, 2 Wheatear and 1 Cuckoo.

Spring is not over yet and hopefully we will have more birds to come.

On conservation matters. I am still awaiting a reply from the council as regards placing a bird hide on site. I will hopefully be able to announce a programme of events for the late summer and autumn period by the end of the month.

I hope to be able to also contact the local ranger with a view to getting some signs up asking dog-walkers to refrain from letting their dogs off leads on site during the breeding season and around the lagoons.

I am holding fire on a website at present as I lack the funds to set one up :)