A few Ducks returning

A sunny day but cooler than of late. A fresh variable breeze.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Alan managed a ringing session yesterday.

This was about the first morning for a long time that there was no risk of being roasted alive and the wind was very light so I set off to Middleton at 05.15.
The three nets set produced a modest catch of 24 birds by 11-00, comprising:
 
Singles of Blackbird, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Cetti's Warbler (retrap) and Robin.
Chiffchaff  2
Wren  4
Willow Warbler  3
Sedge Warbler  4
Dunnock  2
long-tailed Tit   1 +  2 retraps

I checked some of the ponds this afternoon to see how widespread the Red-eyed Damselflies are (Malcolm)

Main pond - not checked

"No swimming" pond

Mute Swan pair

Mallard 25+

Gadwall 3 

Tufted Duck 1 female

Moorhen 3

Coot 2

Mute Swans and some of the Mallard

 male Gadwall in eclipse 

Gadwall

This clip shows more of the Mallard then ends up on the three Gadwall

Male Mallard in eclipse

Female Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck idly watching a damselfly pass by

There is a lot of surface weed on this pond, and there were dozens of Damselflies, but most were just our regular blue eyed varieties. I did manage to see three Small Red-eyed Damselflies, including an ovipositoring pair.

Small Red-eyed Damselflies 

Ovipositoring Emperor 

Also Brown Hawker

Fence pond had plenty of surface weed but only the usual Damselflies seen

Moorhen with just a single tiny chick

Grey Heron 1

Similarly with the other open water in the central marshes. Just the regular Damselflies and a couple of Common Darter

The only warbler seen or heard was a singing Blackcap 

Butterflies:

Mainly Gatekeeper 

But also Meadow Brown, Peacock, Green-veined White and Common Blue

Green-veined White and a Carder Bumblebee 

Imperial Rd - Malcolm

Just a brief check

Buzzard 2 - 1 calling from the copse and one flew over to it

Common Whitethroat seen

Sedge warbler seen

Sedge warbler 

Not many butterflies: Small White, Meadow Brown, GateKeeper and Small Skipper

No Dragonflies