Far Ings NNR 26-6-11

A very hot day today. We were out for 6am, and en route came across (thanks to the eagle eyes of Rich!) a pair of mating Poplar Hawkmoths on a overhanging branch by the pavement.
We completed our breeding bird survey and enjoyed close views of the male Marsh Harrier, at one point he was so close I thought he was going to join us in the hide!!

We had a picnic up at Chowder Ness joined by Skylark and Corn Bunting. 8 Black Tailed Godwits flew west from the reserve. Elsewhere on the reserve was rather quiet but young Swallow were noted, a few Whitethroat and Blackcap and just one Lesser Whitethroat. A Cuckoo was heard briefly near Target Pit and 2 Turtle Dove were seen together on Ness Pit. A pair of Grey Heron were given their marching orders by a few Avocet. A number of Butterflies were on the wing including Small Tortoiseshell, Ringlet and Meadow Brown. Dragonfly- wise we had one Brown Hawker, one Southern Hawker, one Black Tailed Skimmer as well as a few Blue Tailed and Common Blue Damselflies.During the visit I was informed by Andy Sharp that 2 LIttle Gulls had been seen on Pursuit Pit.