Late news from yesterday was a sighting of the first dragonfly of the year, a newly emerged Downy Emerald at the pond next to the Centre, a fresh exuvia was also found a second insect first for the year was a Painted Lady near the Ivy North hide. Also yesterday the Bar-tailed Godwit which has been around for about a week was seen again on Ibsley Water.
On to today, a bit dismal with light rain for much of the time, typically this resulted in good numbers of Swifts over Ibsley Water, at least 100, with smaller numbers of House Martins and Swallows. There were no other signs of any migrants though.
The Lapwings that had been sitting on eggs to the west of the Tern hide lost their nests well over a week ago now and one pair is back sitting again. Both the Little Ringed Plover and "True Grit" Oystercatchers are still incubating. Already hatched are three broods of Greylags (one each of 5, 6 and 10) and one brood of Canada Geese, all on Ibsley Water.
On Ivy Lake today the Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans are still sitting on their nests by the North hide and the first Common Terns were seen on the rafts. Unfortunately there were also two Lesser Black-backed Gulls, two Black-headed Gulls and two pairs of Canada Geese, despite the fencing around the edge.
The volunteers this morning completed a number of odd jobs including making four refuge rafts to attach to the nesting rafts in case any chicks bail out before they can fly as happened last year.
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