We're well and truly into the summer doldrums on the patch. However, breeding birds continue to provide interest. The Coots at Meering are doing well, despite one brood seeming to vanish; last visit there were 16 young across four pairs, including one brood of seven, which I think is the biggest family of Coots I've ever come across.
There was still at least one young Lapwing at Meering on the 3rd, although no sign of it the following day. There are several small families of Mallards around, and two active Mute Swan nests. The Great Crested Grebes at Mons Pool are doing less well, with three nests now abandoned, and only one now active (with at least one egg in it tonight). The Shelduck pair are down to two young on Mons Pool (with no sign of any on the Silt Lagoon) - perhaps not surprising, as they were left unattended when I arrived this evening, and it was some time before the adults flew in from elsewhere.
On the passerine front, Yellow Wags have been collecting food at Meering, nesting in the field to the north, whilst a Cuckoo was doing his thing on two visits, after a bit of an absence. Away from breeding birds, three male Teal turned up at Meering out of the blue, whilst a pair of Shoveler appeared at Mons Pool tonight along with a Ringed Plover.
At the weekend I had what will probably be my last excursion out searching for Grizzled Skippers, finding a tatty individual in the Cotham Sustrans verges adjacent to Cotham Landfill, plus a smarter individual on the access track to the restored landfill leachate lagoon. There were good numbers of Common Blues around, plus a few Brown Argus and one or two Small Heaths. I've still only seen one Small Coppers so far this year...
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