A compilation of the months sightings from my local patch here:
Sunday 7th
The usual suspects around Winter's at the start of today's visit, but what quickly became apparent, was a good movement of Swifts for here, with 332 birds flying north.
It was also great to see 2 Cuckoo, a male and a female, hopefully they will be successful in breeding.
The marshes also held a few niceties which included 7 Ringed Plover, 17 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin, with a Whimbrel still along the Humber shoreline.
A count of 25 Little Egret was also pleasing, along with 13 Teal, a further 153 Swift north, 15 House and 6 Sand Martin.
The most incredible sighting of the day was seen as i walked along the floodbank between Winter's and the Skitter, when i saw the amazing sight of a Nuthatch flying past me calling. I watched in amazement as the bird flew along the hedgerow before i lost it in the direction of Winter's.
This constitutes the first record of the species for the patch and an unexpected one to be honest, not being overly blessed with woodland here.
A few mammals seen today included several Roe Deer and a lovely Fox.
Saturday 15th
An early morning start as always today, saw some decent numbers of Wildfowl on Winter's, with 183 Greylags and 17 Mute Swans, along with 44 Mallard, the usual 3 Coots and 2 Oystercatcher.
Overhead 21 Swifts were feeding and a scan of the Humber saw a single drake Common Scoter being seen.
The marshes again held a few birds, but the water levels are rapidly dropping now.
Best sightings went to 3 Ringed and 2 Little-ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin,4 Shoveler and 13 Little Egret.
A lovely Barn Owl was watched hunting at East Halton Grange, certainly brightening up the day.
The Skitter area was quite productive today. with 2 Snipe,1 Whimbrel, a lovely Water Rail and a couple of hunting Marsh Harriers.
Saturday 22nd
An early start again today saw a few fledged youngsters from several species around the site, this included Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tits, Starlings and Dunnock, in what seems so far as being a disappointing breeding season. This is due to the rubbish spring weather, cool temps and rain don't make for great conditions for raising young unfortunately.
On the ponds 22 Mute Swan, 138 Greylags, 2 Tufties and the 3 Coots made for some steady viewing.
All was not doom and gloom though,as the local Oystercatchers were noisily showing their brood of 2 fledged chicks off on the marshes, chasing all intruders away and making for some great viewing.
Also on the marshes were 1 Little-ringed Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, the first returning Green Sand of their southerly bound migration, 6 Grey Heron and the best of all, a whopping count of 41 Little Egret. This is the largest count of the species for the patch to date and great to see.
The Skitter was fairly quiet, but it was nice to see a Barn Owl, 13 Lapwing and a Water Rail.
A steady month as is usual with June, the following are a selection of my favourite photos from the visits.
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| Mute Swan, Winter's Pond, 7th. |
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| Roe Deer Buck, East Halton Marshes, 7th. |
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| Skitter Road, 7th. |
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| Hoverfly - Volucella pelluscens - Or Pied Plumehorn, Skitter Road, 7th. |
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| Hoverfly - Episyrphus balteatus - Or Marmalade Hoverfly, Skitter Road, 7th. |
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| Hoverfly - Cheilosia illustrata - Or Bumblebee Blacklet, Skitter Road, 7th. |
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| East Halton Skitter, 7th. |
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| Cranefly Species, Nephrotoma flavescens, Skitter Road, 22nd. |
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| Harlequin Ladybird, Redhouse Wood, 22nd. |
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| Soldier Fly Species, Chloromyia formosa, Or Broad Centurion, Skitter Road, 22nd. |
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| East Halton Skitter, 22nd. |
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