Saturday 19 July 2008 - Alvecote Pools SSSI - 19/07/2008

Saturday 18th July 2008

Alvecote Pools SSSI

It was a mixed bag of weather again today with sunny spells, heavy showers and strong south westerly winds.   Around Anker Flashes the juvenile Little Ringed Plover was still present along with 22 Northern Lapwing and 2 Yellow Wagtails (female & juvenile).  A dark Common Buzzard flew through.  Along Bramcote Brook a Lesser Whitethroat and a young Treecreeper were the highlights and there were good numbers of young Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers and Long-tailed Tits.  Around the wheat field margins two male Grass Snakes were good to see, there seems to be impressive numbers around the area this year.  Insects of note included a few Banded Demoiselle, the odd Azure Damselfly, huge numbers of Meadow Browns and a few Small Tortoiseshells.  Along Linden Lane Stock Doves, Common Whitethroats,Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings were all in evidence.  Over on Mill Pool there were 7 Common Tern (including 3 hungry juveniles), 3 Northern Shoveler and the Gadwall family.  Over on Teal Pool a Little Egret (the first of the summer) was flushed whilst the vocal Common Kestrel family were still in the area, chasing each other around in the strong breeze.  Unfortunately there was no sign of the recent Silver-washed Fritillary.  Across the road on Gilman's Pool it was a depressing sight indeed.  The Pool has recently been closed to fishermen due to some mystery disease killing off the fish.  Strewn around the perimeter were the rotting corpses of several huge Carp.  Insects in this area included several Brown Hawker dragonflies feeding on Common Blue Damselflies and Blue-tailed Damselflies.  Butterflies included a few Speckled Woods and a single Comma.  Around on Pretty Pigs Pool there were just a few more Common Terns (adult and 2 juveniles), 3 Greylag Geese and 2 Tufted Ducks.  In the fields near the Old Orchard there were around a dozen Mistle Thrushes.  Another species that seems to have enjoyed a successful breeding season around the reserve.