coot Archives - Lower Bruckland Wildlife Gardens & Nature Reserve

June Update

The highlight of what is often the quietest month for birds were three Tufted Ducks (two drakes and a female). They were first seen on the Axe Estuary on Monday 13th June, but soon relocated to the Ponds where they remained beyond the end of the month. Tufted Ducks are unlike any other of the regular ducks species that reside in the Axe Valley as they are diving ducks. The Ponds provide the largest body of deep fresh water around so any diving ducks that do pay us a visit usually wind up here.

Male and female Tufted Duck © Tim White http://timwhitewildlife.blogspot.co.uk/

The seven cygnets seem to be growing well, with both parents always nearby. And it looks as though there are four pairs of Coot spread across the network of lakes, it is great to see this formally locally rare breeding species increasing in numbers.

Thanks as always to Steve for the update; thanks to Tim White for the photos.

June 2015

Southern Marsh Orchid at Lower Bruckland

The Ponds have been very busy this month, with wildlife all over the place. It is such a joyous place to be at any time of the day this time of year as there is just so much to see. If it is flowers you want, there are many on show at the moment including Southern Marsh Orchid (see photo), swarms of butterflies include numerous Large Skippers (see photo), along with thousands of emerging dragonflies and damselflies, with now being a good time to see the rare Scarce Chaser (see photo). You may even be lucky enough to come across one of the larger mammals, with Roe Deer and this young Fox (see photo) recorded this month.

Birds have been busy as well, with young birds aplenty. On the ponds at least two pairs of Little Grebe have got small young, along with numerous young Coot (see photo) and Moorhen. The Swan family were down to six cygnets by the middle of the month, if they can keep all of them it will be a very successful year.

A bird ringing session on 26th proved breeding of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Robin and Blackbird. All these birds caught were juveniles not long out of the nest, which is tremendous news. Out of all the birds caught during the whole session only two were adults, a Reed Warbler and a Swallow (see photos). The Swallow was especially interesting as it was already bearing a ring, and not one fitted by anyone locally. It will be exciting to find out where and when it was first ringed, but unfortunately this information may take a while to glean from the BTO.

(Steve Waite, June 2015)

Tag Archives: coot

June Birding Update: Tufted Ducks and Coot

June Update

June Birding at Lower Bruckland