Brent Reservoir on the last day of spring

May 31st is officially the last day of spring according to the weather forecasters so I was out nice and early around the Welsh Harp to try and beat the throngs of people expected later as the forecast was for another hot and sunny Sunday. I didn’t linger much while walking through Neasden Rec apart from to admire the squadrons of screaming Swifts feeding in the skies as I wanted to get over to East Marsh early. The drought is having quite an effect on the reservoir with low levels leaving a lot of silt exposed in both marshes and the toxic Blue-green Algae warning signs have already gone up although this didn’t prevent one idiot illegally paddle-boarding on the reservoir.

On a favoured sunlit hedge there were a few Dock Bugs around and dozens of bumblebees on the newly emerged bramble flowers while on the path was a superb male Broad-bodied Chaser. It flew up onto the brambles and showed off its flattened shield-like body.

Dock Bug

Hoverfly sp, still looking to identify this one

Broad-bodied Chaser

I saw a pair of dozing Great Crested Grebes and snuck up close in case they decided to wake up. One of them did for a minute then decided to resume its nap. 

Great Crested Grebe

If you're lucky you may see them displaying which can be mutual head-shaking which may then culminate in a 'weed-dance'. This involves them diving underwater to get a bill full of weed then rearing up out of the water facing each other and paddling furiously to stay upright while shaking their heads from side to side. Clearly this pair weren't in the mood for such vigorous exertions so, in true Blue Peter fashion, here's a photo of a pair at it from earlier this spring.

Great Crested Grebes doing the weed dance

A little further out a female Mute Swan was gathering food for one of its new cygnets. When a flotilla of Canada Geese swam by she made sure to shield the cygnet from them.

In North Marsh a pair of Shoveler were dozing with a pair of Mallard. And over on the far side a new brood of Cootlings were being fed.

Mallards and Shoveler

Male Shoveler

Coot with young

In the grass I found the first Large Skipper of the year; there were very few butterflies around, possibly due to the very dry conditions. Over on the North Bank I located a Chimney Sweeper (a day flying moth) in the usual location and finally caught up with a Common Blue Damselfly to add to the Blue-tailed I’d seen earlier but surprisingly still no Azures. I heard the mobbing call of a Crow and looked up to see it have a go at the resident Buzzard, named Nick as it has a gap in its left wing.

 

Large Skipper

Chimney Sweeper

Common Blue Damselfly

Nick the resident Buzzard

By now, the area was already busy with people walking, running and cycling so I made my way home to some peace and quiet.