Soaring to over 1033 mb, the highest since late-March, high pressure quickly returned to temper the westerly to only a mild breeze and later in the day encouraged out the sunshine, and the jet-skiers. During the morning high tide, the estuary supported 184 Oystercatcher, 72 Sanderling, 22 Canada Goose, nine Shelduck, eight Dunlin, seven Great Black-backed Gull, six Whimbrel, three Curlew, three Grey Plover, two Ringed Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwit, one Little Egret.
On the Main Pond, the pair of Mute Swan continued to incubate, two pairs of Little Grebe - one with its single half-grown first brood youngster and the other pair that lost its first brood chick today nurtured two tiny (2nd brood) chicks. Monitoring these potential meals was a Grey Heron. Also there a female Mallard with its two surviving mostly grown ducklings.
Overhead passage was typically light and comprised of 15 Swallow, five House Martin, three Swift and a single Black-headed Gull flew north. As some birds continued their epic cross-continental journeys to breeding grounds, some other migrants and resident species that had established territories back a couple of months ago were in various stages of their respective breeding seasons on site. A family group of nine Long-tailed Tit bounced through the Entrance Bushes, and five nest-boxes at various locations occupied by Blue Tit and Great Tit showed signs that they were all about to fledge. An elusive juvenile Song Thrush briefly showed. Young are expected soon from the three-four territories each of Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, and from the 10-11 territories of Whitethroat. However, three of the four pairs of Stonechat on site have already fledged young and today's absence of females perhaps suggests these are on their way to producing 2nd broods.
Wildlife news: single Emperor Dragonfly were on Warren Point and over the Main Pond. A Red Admiral nectared on Red Valerian.
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