Old Moor - 17th May

Another good day in the Old Moor Area with plenty of passing waders and some more breeding news. The Bittern was still booming on the reedbeds and the adult and first summer Med Gulls were still present. There were 6 Turnstones on the mere, 5 left to Broomhill and then north. On the wader scrape Ringed Plovers built up to 12 during the day as well as 6 Little Ringed Plovers and 3 Dunlin. The 2 Avocet chicks were still present and a new brood of Redshank were on Bolton Ings. There were 5 Lesser Whitethroats singing at Old Moor with at least 12 males in the area. Finally the Tree Sparrow nestboxes were checked today, there were 11 active nests with chicks or eggs, 2 further nests with neither eggs or chicks and a further 2 singing males. Potentially 15 pairs which is a big increase on the 7 pairs last year.