Nethergong Birding

With the day forecast to be the hottest of the year, I wanted to be out early to avoid the heat. I arrived at a misty Nethergong at 5am and walked the circuit a few times before I left for home around 8:50am. I managed to see or hear 51 species this morning which included a surprise in the form of a female Shoveler with 1 duckling. I have somehow managed to miss this species this year on the lake and to have a breeding bird is very special indeed.

 

Shoveler

 

Other birds noted included 4 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Swift, c15 Swallow, 1 Treecreeper, 3 Yellowhammer, 2 Skylark, 10 Cormorant and 1 Cetti's Warbler. There were 5 Whitethroat, 4 Reed Warbler, c12 Long tailed Tit, 3 Coot, 1 Jay, 1 Linnet, 1 Shelduck flew high towards Grove, 2 Mute Swan with 5 Cygnet, 1 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl, 1 juvenile Goldcrest, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Marsh Harrier. On the dragonfly front, I noted a few newly emerged Common Darter at the pond with quite a few Blue tailed Damselfly. Also a few Black tailed Skimmer and 2 Norfolk Hawker noted. Butterflies were represented by good numbers of Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small Heath, Small and Essex Skipper, 2 Painted Lady and c15 Marbled White including a few newly emerged in the long grasses.

 

Marbled White - newly emerged