Latest Sightings
The sounds of lapwing, skylark and reed bunting song can be heard from the footpath Gordon Taylor. Chiffchaff and chaffinches have also started gearing up for breeding season, the latter’s song being heard on the footpaths throughout the reserve, though especially near Raines feeders.
The yellow browed warbler and Siberian chiffchaffs have been showing at the sewage farm again. The explosive song of wren and trills of long tailed tits are also a common sight here.
Despite some maintenance causing disturbance at Ron Barker and Woodened Marsh, there has still been plenty to see at both. At Woodend Marsh this morning there were avocets, lapwing, kestrel and of course plenty of teal and wigeon.
The avocets are also commonly seen on the mere and from Ron Barker, and it’s not unusual now to have 30 on the reserve. The same amount of, if not more, black tailed godwits frequent the mere. The jubilant sounds of oystercatchers can be heard in the air and these smart little characters can be seen on the mere and Woodend Marsh.
The mere is getting increasingly popular for back headed gulls, with the occasional Mediterranean gull amongst them.
Canada geese have increased in number on the reserve, and their lilting tones can be heard everywhere, especially the reedbed.
A sparrowhawk was seen on the path down to Ron Barker yesterday. Marsh harriers are still going strong on the reserve, and one was seen catching a bird in the air from UU last week. Barn owls have been seen from Ron Barker by the wardens on their rounds at dawn and dusk.
Numbers of roosting whooper swans and pink footed geese are rising with almost 700 swans and over 3000 geese. Presumably wintering birds from further south are starting to head north and gather for their migration to Iceland. Whoopers are still a regular sight on the mere in the day. Pink feet can usually be seen on the banks and 6 landed in front of Raines this morning.
We are seeing more and more green and bright colours in the undergrowth every day. Primroses, daffodils and celandine line the footpaths. The scaly, reptilian looking coltsfoot flowers can be seen on the reedbed (like a dandelion crossed with a lizard). The first red campion of the spring is showing between Raines and Discovery hide. Willows are starting to come into leaf and hawthorn leaves are bursting out of their buds.
