Lade - Hot, dry and sunny, E2 - South lake continues to attract large numbers of wetland birds. A visit yesterday on the high tide produced over 150 roosting Sandwich Terns, 20 Commons and, new in, a juvenile Black Tern which frustratingly kept over the far side of the lake. Whilst watching my first two juvenile Marsh Harriers of summer quartering the far reed bed, being mobbed by a Sparrowhawk, a Bittern dropped into the reeds having flown in from ARC direction. A Dartford Warbler called and showed briefly from the main track gorse while there was a noticeable drop off in warbler activity by the ponds. At least six Common Sandpipers flitted around south lake. Afterwards I called in to ARC where the vegetation has now been cleared in front of Hanson hide, but there was little of note apart from six Little Ringed Plovers, several Common Sandpipers and two Snipes. I returned to Lade in the evening with the family to observe the solar eclipse, an amazing spectacle and most notable for the sudden drop in temperature as the sun was blotted out, and a Grey Plover overhead calling in the twilight.
Today`s visit to Lade was for a sea swim in the bay - amongst the jellyfish! However, as always, it was good to watch the Sandwich Terns screeching overhead and fishing offshore; also noted two Little Terns and a flyover Knot. The garden moth trap was busy last night with Latticed Heath being new for the site alongside the smart micro-moth Evergestis pallidata.
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