Killingworth Lake today and one of the pairs of Great crested Grebes have vacated their nest with the 3 surviving youngsters aboard their backs.Sadly, one of the brood was taken yesterday by a Black headed Gull.The second pair lost all of their young and abandoned the nest. A pair of Reed warblers remain at the small lake.A Mute Swan accompanied 6 cygnets. On up to Arcot Pond next,where yesterdays Ruddy Duck had departed but a 2 broods of Pochard were noted. Singing birds included Grasshopper Warbler, Whitethroats, Sedge and Willow Warblers,Chiffchaffs and Reed Buntings. A family party of Great spotted Woodpeckers and 2 pairs of Bullfinches were seen too. Good numbers of Swifts and both Martins hawked for insects. Kestrel and Buzzard noted. Insects were very numerous on what was a hot day,with many dozens of Common Blue Damselflies skimming the surface of the pond.Butterflies were much in evidence,with my first sightings of the year of both Meadow Browns and Ringlets , easily 60+ of the former counted. A pair of Jays seen and heard to the north of the pond. A Cuckoo called twice only. Next at Bellasis bridge, 3 Banded Demoiselle dragonflys were spotted,but were quite difficult to see at times. A Buzzard overhead and Sand Martins, Yellowhammers,Whitethroats,Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings,Skylarks and Linnets were among other species noted here. Down to St. Marys to finish, where the Stonechat family remain,4 youngsters with the male bird. The field of wild flowers having been cut yesterday, was being picked over by crows and gulls, but the nests of Pipits,Skylarks and a Grasshopper Warbler pair were destroyed. I hope their young had fledged. 5 pairs of Sedge Warbler were here and a singing Reed Warbler. 2 singing Grasshopper Warblers,7-8 Whitethroats and 14 male Reed Buntings counted.
A.S.Jack
