What to look for in JUNE
This
is the most important month for bird breeding activity with all species trying
to survive against the pressures of weather and predators. At the Beach Reserve
it should be possible to watch many species raising their young, but please
take care not to disturb them. Look out for alarmed adult birds, especially Ringed
Plovers, and move away. The best places to watch are from the hides, where
the birds will behave naturally. On the islands of Ternery Pool the gulls and
terns will be feeding their young and the ducklings of Shelduck,
Mallard and perhaps Ruddy Duck, Gadwall and Shoveler
will be feeding themselves. Wheatears
will also be feeding fledged young.
Various
species of wader may still be migrating.
Look out for scarce species such as Avocet, Curlew Sandpiper and Little
Stint. Despite the time of
year there are some, like Curlew, Green Sandpiper and Lapwing
arriving from further north after breeding. Teal, Shoveler and Sand Martins may also begin
to return at the end of the month.
Unusual visitors in recent years have included Purple Heron, Marsh
Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Roseate Tern and Golden Oriole.
Some of the Reserve's more
striking plants will not flower until this month, including Bee Orchid
and Pyramidal Orchid. The first half of the month
is usually the best time to see the colourful floral display across the Beach
Reserve. As the mass of white Sea
Kale flowers begins to fade, others are bursting open: the large blue
spikes of Viper’s Bugloss, the
yellow flowers of Yellow-horned Poppy,
Biting Stonecrop and Bird’s-foot Trefoil, the pink flowers
of Red Valerian, Sea Heath and Thrift and the
purple flowers of Ivy-leaved
Toadflax, Sea Pea and Bittersweet. Castle Water is the best place to see damselflies and dragonflies,
the commonest being Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies and Black-tailed Skimmers. At the end of the month some
grasshoppers may start to sing including Mottled
Grasshopper, whose song resembles a watch being wound up.
