A quiet day a the New Workings.

A Hobby and 1 Green Sandpiper reported.

Roger Blackmore.

Along the river Severn at Grimley this morning, 2 Little Egrets, a Raven and a Spotted Flycatcher. At the new workings later in the day one of the Little Egrets (the Juv. seen on and off all week) 2 Green Sandpipers and a Juv Mediteranean Gull.

(For a photo of the Med Gull see Brian's Worcester blog at /blog/W0RCESTERBIRDING/)

Sightings by Terry Norledge and Brian Stretch.

At the new Workings today the Little Egret was still about, along with 2 Green Sandpipers.

After fearing that the 2nd Common Tern brood had perished in the heat, I am happy to report that at least one chick is still with us. It was seen emerging from under the bush on its island and being fed by one of the adults.

Photos of a Common Darter, the first brood of Common Terns on the raft and a surprisingly tame but rather scruffy Lapwing taken today.

The Little egret was still in the area, on the river a little north of Bevere lock. At the main pool this afternoon, 3 green sandpipers and another large flock of Black Headed gulls which had increased from about 50 mid morning to over 250 by mid afternoon. On the causway 2 Silver Y moths were feeding on the flowering vegetation alongside many evil looking hornets.

Sightings by Roger Blackmore and Oliver Wadsworth.

At the New Workings this afternoon:

The Juv. Little Egret was still around the pools today along with 2 male Teal, 6 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, c210(!) Black Headed Gulls and a mere 20 or so Lesser Black Backed Gulls.

The 3 Fledged Common tern continue to prosper but the second brood on the island may now only be one chick as no one has seen the other 2 for several days.

Oliver Wadsworth 

At the New Workings the immature Little Egret is still showing well between visits to the river.

Also 2 Dunlin and Green Sandpipers there.

Roger Blackmore.

Here is photo taken late evening  showing a brood of  tufted duck

This is one of the Terns that bred on the floating raft.

Obviously a ruddy duck

I may be very naive but the male mallard seemed to be attempting to
drown the female. He dragged her around underwater for a few minutes
before scaring her off.

House martin over the causeway

This morning I was greeted by a little Egret basking on the far shore of the south pool at New workings. The tern family on the raft seems to be doing well with the chicks looking quite tern like now. A juvenile cormorant was present as were 3 dunlin,  2 green sandpipers and 2 oystercatchers.

Dave

This morning at the new workings: A Juv Little Egret was present before moving off to the river, later to return to the main pool. Also 2 adult Dunlin and 3 Green Sandpipers and an adult Hobby thorugh. The Juv Sedge warblers were still on the causway.

This evening the Little Egret as were the Dunlin. The Green Sandpiper count had risen to 5.

A pair of Raven were on the east field and a Sparrowhawk went through.

Sightings by Brian Stretch, Terry Norledge and Oliver Wadsworth.

Today at the New Workings:

3 Black Tailed Godwits went through. These birds were first seen leaving Westwood pool heading SW and were picked up over Grimley by Clive 'the bike'.

Also present, 3 Green Sandpipers, 2 ad. Sedge Warblers and a Yellow Wagtail.

Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine were seen around the pools this morning.

The 2nd brood of Common Tern has increased overnight to 3 young. This is the first time we have had more than one pair hatch eggs. (Do 2 broods qualify as a colony?)

The first brood continue to thrive. They are fully mobile now and probably reletively safe from the Lesser Black Backed Gulls that were seen picking off tufted duck chicks this morning.

Thanks to Brian Stretch for the majority of today's sightings. He has a new Blog on the Surfbirds system called Worcester Birding. It covers daily sighting reports across the county. There is a photo archive of county rarities and also a detailed list of past county rarity records.

Oliver Wadsworth.