August is supposed to be a quiet month, but tell that to the warblers – they were everywhere around Longham Lakes this morning. At times there were so many Blackcaps calling “tack” that it seemed as though somebody had left a ticking clock in the scrub. One Garden Warbler showed well in the warm sunshine, and there were plenty of Whitethroats about. With singing Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, plus Reed and Sedge Warblers, it was a great day for these furtive sprites.
Another migrant around early on was a Swift. Although the latest record at Longham is September 2nd, I don’t expect to see many more this year. Most are already in Africa.
Yet the highlight at Longham at the moment is still the incredible numbers of young Tufted Ducks around. I counted 118 youngsters of various ages, surely a productivity record for the county. If you’ve never seen a lake crowded with downy Tufties, get round and take a look.
LATE NEWS: Dave and Pat Harris report the Marsh Harrier around again this afternoon, together with 1 Greenshank and 1 Green Sandpiper.