With no news from offshore or the estuary, there was little to report aside from the breeding species. Of these the Sparrowhawk are increasingly vocal, with several Bullfinch in the Entrance Bushes and, at the Main Pond, three independent Little Grebe chicks, at least two of which are yet to fully fledge.
Other Wildlife: A welcome increase in insect activity including a number of species new for the year including Four-banded Bee-grabber Conops quadrifasciatus, Striped Slender Robberfly Leptogaster cylindrica, the hoverflies Bolete Blacklet Cheilosia scutellata and Glass-winged Syrphus S. vitripennis and a Small Shaggy Bee Panurgus calcaratus.
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| Four-banded Bee-grabber Conops quadrifasciatus - Alan Keatley |
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| Glass-winged Syrphus S. vitripennis - Alan Keatley |
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| Small Shaggy Bee Panurgus calcaratus - Alan Keatley |
The dune grassland is now looking parched, but the wet spring has lead to a profusion of flowering species in the damper areas, with Skullcap and Selfheal two of the species benefitting. A third is Purple Loosestrife, which in turn benefits the Loosestrife Weevil Nanophyes marmoratus, clocking in at a whopping 2mm, and plentiful on flowering plants.
Loosestrife Weevil Nanophyes marmoratus - Alan Keatley 
Selfheal - Kevin Rylands
Small Red-eyed Damselfly have also emerged and wasted no time in ovipositing with several pairs on the Main Pond. They were joined by Azure and Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser and a couple of Black-tailed Skimmer.
Elsewhere more Small Skipper and Gatekeeper are now on the wing with a couple of Large Skipper, a Holly Blue and a Marbled White. Moths noted included Six-spot Burnet, Dingy Shell, Dusky Marble Orthotaenia undulana and Willow Tortrix Epinotia cruciana.
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| Willow Tortrix Epinotia cruciana - Kevin Rylands |
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