New site bird!

They don't come much better-looking than this summer plumage BLACK-NECKED GREBE that spent the day of 19th March on the main pit!  A first for the site taking the all time total to 157.

The bird followed the arrival of 7 Pintail the day before and was joined on 19th by the first Dunlin of the year, coinciding with the arrival of very warm conditions on south-easterly winds.  Three Little Ringed Plovers were also on site along with a White Wagtail.  One observer also saw a Rock Pipit (possibly the same bird from 16th?) but others were unable to find it.  The site's first Mediterranean Gull for the year - a second winter bird - was also seen on 18th.

7 Pintail over the site on 20th Mar

The warm conditions (18+ degrees Celsius) saw the site's first butterflies of the year too - a Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.  The 20th March saw further movement with Little Ringed Plover numbers up to 5 by the end of the day and a first winter Mediterranean Gull that slowly circled through the site without alighting.

The 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on 20th March

The weekend ahead holds changeable weather including some heavy rain so could be a recipe for more arrivals.  The site year total now stands at 94 species.