We have observed many young birds on the reserve the last few months. Through the webcams we have seen mallard and moorhen with chicks. Much older and more independent, we are still catching sight of the moorhen family through ditch cam. We have watched blackbirds collecting nesting materials on the pond edge and later collecting food. There has also been lots of bird activity out of sight of the webcams, territorial calls of blackbird, thrush and robin have echoed through the woodland
Back in June we observed (and frequently heard) newly fledged blue tit and great tit as the parents struggled to keep the chicks together while they forage for insect prey. And of course the feed warblers that migrate to the UK from Africa and nest in the reed bed on the reserve.
On a walk around the reserve on Sunday I came across a young thrush hiding in the foliage. Later on I came across two juvenile robins in different locations in the woodland.
The first robin fluttered down into deeper leaf cover as I walked past. The second juvenile robin was easier to observe. From its perch, it fluttered up to the over hanging foliage several times and appeared to be trying to catch insects. The juvenile still had its speckled feathers around its head but was also developing the red chest feathers.
The robin eventually flew up to a higher branch where it began to preen its feathers.
Robins usually lay between 4-6 eggs and may have two clutches a year.
