Pontoon Harmony.

It was all very harmonious on the pontoon on Tuesday, and Conder Pool was quite busy, with plenty to entertain for a couple of hours.

Nine Common Tern were seen as two pairs with five young, the second pair having three young in the nest. The Black-headed Gull young are progressing well to get beyond the prey stage and hopefully to fledge, 4 Avocet remain with two sitting, one of which has three eggs. Also to note, a Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, the Little Grebe seen again, and a Stock Dove.

I watched 12 Common Sandpiper explode into the air and scatter from the backside of the near right hand small island, I decided not to count the four seen later in the creeks on the circuit to eliminate duplication....16 Common Sandpiper?

A Lesser Whitethroat gave excellent views in the hedgerow, later a Whitethroat seen. Butterflies seen, 4 Painted Lady, a Red Admiral, and a Meadow Brown. Two Swift were over the canal basin at Glasson Dock.

Watch the video 'Full Screen' and see the characteristic foot-trembling behaviour on soft mud by the Little Ringed Plover to unearth it's food of insects and worms.....Fascinating stuff.

Little Ringed Plover Conder Pool 2 July. Pete Woodruff

Thanks to Ian Mitchell for his excellent header image of the Keeled Skimmer at Birk Bank yesterday, the bog is currently a carpet of yellow with Bog Asphodel.