Back on Patch...

Its time for my Spring and Summer patch update! 

My patch is Longdon Marsh, Worcestershire, where I do a WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) for the BTO.

My highlight of the Spring was undoubtedly finding a pair of summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes which stayed for a few days on the main scrape. I saw them the day I was doing the WeBS count for May; a very welcome edition to the day's list! 
The Black-necked Grebe is a scarce bird in Worcestershire and therefore classed as a local rarity. 

Here's the Black-necked Grebe pair together...just!

They were probably on their migration, passing through their breeding site. 

Another record shot of a passage migrant seen during late Spring, a Black-tailed Godwit, the first I've seen on the reserve. It was most likely a failed breeder from Iceland coming back to Britain to spend the rest of the year. 

As I was about to leave one morning, this Greenshank dropped into the scrape, calling frequently. Probably another failed breeder from northerly latitudes. 

There's been a Little Ringed Plover at the scrape for a few weeks now, usually seen running around the margins, stopping briefly to pluck something to eat out of the mud. 

Redshank bred in the area this year and are often seen in ones or twos feeding around the scrape.

They are easily separated from the scarcer Greenshank in flight by their large white trailing edge to their wings, as GS doesn't show this.

Another uncommon species which bred on the reserve this year are Yellow Wagtail, this juvenile was feeding on the dock seeds. 

Longdon Marsh has lots of thick hedges and scrub patches, perfect for breeding warblers, like this Lesser Whitethroat. You usually hear them rather than see them as they skulk in the bottom of thick vegetation, with the males often uttering their jangly song. 

Since I started going to Longdon I've always heard Cuckoos during Spring and early Summer. I've often seen them too, though this was the best view I've ever had.

I don't see many Hobby at Longdon, so watching this one whilst it whizzed through the air, catching and eating dragonfly on the wing was fantastic. 

A species which I do see regularly at Longdon though are Brown Hares, often seen lolloping through the grass near to the scrape. 

During Summer the hedges along the path down to the main viewing screen become alive with Beautiful Demoiselles which flitter about, feeding and looking for mates. This one is a male.

There is much more wildlife other than birds at Longdon! 

In the meadows there are quite a few different species of butterfly such as this Small Skipper, as well as Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Brimstone and Common Blue. 

My patch never fails to disappoint, even when birds are thin on the ground. 

I wonder what next season will bring!