Raindrops keep falling.....

Saturday 7th July 2012
A large number of Swifts were feeding very high over Bentley Woods this morning,They were spread over quite a large area so impossible to give even an estimate. At Shustoke reservoir a Common Sandpiper was seen, perhaps a returning bird. The regular count of 27ish Common tern were still present. At Coton there were 60 Coot and a number of Ringlet butterflies.Cliff pool was completely flooded.

The continuing story of the Coots: yesterdays unrelenting rain had caused the river Tame to flood. Despite the best efforts of the Coots their eggs were now lying in water and were temporarily abandoned as one of the Coots made last ditch efforts to save the nest .

The female carefully tries to roll the egg higher up in the nest, perilously close to the edge.

As the rain hammers down the Coot does her best to incubate the egg

Rain

A Common tern during a sunny spell.