The weather here in the South of England for May has been superb, hot and sunny and lots of it.
At Moor Green Lakes, Berkshire, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls have been busy gathering nesting material at Tern Island, the only pair of their species among about one hundred plus pairs of Black Headed Gull. By the end of the month the female was sitting tight on the nest, so hopefully, if the eggs are fertile, they should hatch soon. I'm not sure, but they could be the first to breed on the reserve. Fingers crossed that by the time I visit next week I might see the chicks.
The reserve has been alive with singing birds that are setting up territories after arriving from Africa.
Whitethroat, Garden, Willow and Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff have all been in song.
Common Tern have taken up residence at their usual spot at the very end of Tern Island and as they arrive after the gulls, there is very little room left.
The Blue Tits that occupied the nest box on the side of the house had nine eggs in total of which eight hatched.
At first all went well with both parents feeding the chicks for a week and a half. The male then went missing and the chicks suffered. In the end only two were left which successfully fledged. I did find one of them on the ground in the garden, which I managed to place in a bush nearby and a few minutes later the female found it and started to give it food. Hopefully they have survived since leaving the box.
At Moor Green Lakes, Berkshire, a pair of Mediterranean Gulls have been busy gathering nesting material at Tern Island, the only pair of their species among about one hundred plus pairs of Black Headed Gull. By the end of the month the female was sitting tight on the nest, so hopefully, if the eggs are fertile, they should hatch soon. I'm not sure, but they could be the first to breed on the reserve. Fingers crossed that by the time I visit next week I might see the chicks.
The reserve has been alive with singing birds that are setting up territories after arriving from Africa.
Whitethroat, Garden, Willow and Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff have all been in song.
Common Tern have taken up residence at their usual spot at the very end of Tern Island and as they arrive after the gulls, there is very little room left.
The Blue Tits that occupied the nest box on the side of the house had nine eggs in total of which eight hatched.
At first all went well with both parents feeding the chicks for a week and a half. The male then went missing and the chicks suffered. In the end only two were left which successfully fledged. I did find one of them on the ground in the garden, which I managed to place in a bush nearby and a few minutes later the female found it and started to give it food. Hopefully they have survived since leaving the box.
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