Actually, I have just had the best July ever at Elton, adding 8 Elton year ticks (usually only add 1-3 ticks in July). Admittendly, some were species that I'd have usually added earlier but for some reason missed, as May seemed particulary difficult here. New July ticks this year were:
Common Redshank Black-legged Kittiwake Arctic Tern Common Cuckoo Dunlin Common Ringed Plover Black-tailed Godwit Purple Heron
Just a general observation and query. Has anyone else found this past month spectacularly quiet of birds? Even taking into account the small birds going into ninja mode for the post-breeding moult and the effects of the advice not to put bird food out in our gardens this Summer. Most years I'd be spending a lot of time on walks puzzling about enigmatic squeaks and clicks in the undergrowth, this year a lot of the prolonged silences have been broken by passing dragonflies. It all feels a bit broken somehow.
