Having recorded Quail a couple of times recently out on Chislet Marshes, I thought I would get up at silly O'clock and see whether I could actually hear one on the patch. On the 1st July, I arrived at 03:00 and spent a few hours walking around the southern end of the patch. At 03:40, I could hear a distant Quail calling a couple of times before it went quiet. Although I have recorded them here this year, it was pleasing to be able to add this species to my patch list. The other obvious highlight has been that the pair of Egyptian Geese have bred and are raising 3 young goslings at present, plus an adopted Mallard which they seem to have picked up. This constitutes the first breeding record of this species on the Nethergong patch. I shall hopefully follow how they grow over the coming weeks. I have also been seeing the odd Barn Owl and Little Owl when I have been going down in the evening to put out the recorder. 

Egyptian Geese 

With a number of Quail being heard over the past few weeks, I thought I would give it a go last night at Chislet Marshes, so on arrival at 8pm, I walked around the area for an hour listening in warm sunny conditions. birds noted included 11 Mallard, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 Common Tern, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Barn Owl, 2 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 6 Swallow, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 10 Linnet and 7 Reed Bunting. I put the recorder out on the marsh in the hope I would get something going over. 

I was up early this morning at 4am where I spent an hour or so walking again around the fields listening out for any Quail. I didn't hear any but unbeknown to me, when I went through the recording from last night, around 2am, a Quail (112) was heard calling a few times. This is the second record I have sound recorded in 10 years but I have still not heard one on the patch live. It's nice to know they are passing through. I just need a bird to hang around and call for a while one early morning. Other birds this morning included 5 Mute Swan, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Swift, 1 Moorhen, 2 Common Tern, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Barn Owl, 1 Little Owl, 2 Kestrel, 4 Raven, 3 Skylark, 6 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 2 Swallow, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet, 1 Yellowhammer and 3 Reed Bunting. It was pleasing to see 3 Norfolk Hawker and 3 Emperor Dragonfly flying around at 04:30 and a little later, I saw my first 7 Willow Emerald Damselfly of the year along with 12 Emerald Damselfly. I shall hopefully record again tonight and have another early morning walk in the hope of hearing a Quail. 

Sunrise over Chislet Marshes

Quail 

I had a walk around the area in warming conditions which produced 1 Mute Swan, 1 Egyptian Goose, 10 Mallard, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Pheasant, 2 Swift, 3 Moorhen, 10 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black backed Gull, 2 Common Tern, 3 Cormorant, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 2 Skylark, 1 Sedge Warbler, 7 Reed Warbler, 4 Swallow and 3 Chiffchaff. There were 2 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Long tailed Tit, 4 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Firecrest was heard singing, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird, 3 Chaffinch, 3 Linnet, 8 Goldfinch, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting. It was nice to add a new dragonfly to the patch list with 5 Red veined Darter being seen and 1 Scarce Chaser (2nd record in 10 years) was also noted.  

Firecrest

Red veined Darter - male