Monday 16th June

Increasing numbers of post-breeding Curlew were in the estuary on the dropping tide before being flushed by low flying aircraft, departing up river with any other hat may have been present. 

Elsewhere the low water levels have revealed the usually secretive Moorhen pair at the Dune Pond with two chicks, with a yet to fledge Little Grebe and the pair of Canada Geese with six goslings were at the Main Pond.

Other Wildlife: Several summer hymenoptera were on the wing for the first time this year including Bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum and Minute Black Wasp Diodontus minutus exploring nest holes in the Buffer Zone, Small Shaggy Bee Panurgus calcaratus near Langstone Rock and Pantaloon Bee Dasypoda hirtipes in Skipper Meadow.

Bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum - Alan Keatley

Minute Black Wasp Diodontus minutus - Alan Keatley

Small Shaggy Bee Panurgus calcaratus - Alan Keatley

Many insects were hyperactive in the warm sunshine including three Golden-ringed Dragonfly and the year's first Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Less active were a Pouting Woodlouse Fly Rhinophora lepida and a Black Mournful Wasp Pemphredon lugubris.

Pouting Woodlouse Fly Rhinophora lepida - Alan Keatley

Black Mournful Wasp Pemphredon lugubris - Alan Keatley