Latest Sightings
It’s been an exciting weekend on the mere. Two of the four great crested grebes that usually breed here turned up at Harrier Hide on Sunday. They were looking resplendent with their mating crests and performing their brilliant mating dance.
The calls of curlew were heard above the mere this morning, and one was seen with the lapwing in front of Gordon Taylor yesterday. Oystercatchers can be heard and seen throughout the reserve doing their conspicuous displays. There were 40+ black tailed godwits on the mere this morning. 2 redshank were seen flying from Gordon Taylor to the mere and snipe have been reported from Gordon Taylor. And of course the avocets, there are about 30 on the reserve now and they can be seen from on the mere and woodend marsh.
Cetti’s warbler, reed bunting and water rail songs can be heard on the reedbed. The tufted duck are looking very smart in front of Harrier Hide, as are the gadwall.
Lapwing and skylark displays are an awesome sight, most reliably seen and heard from UU and near long meadow barn.
Chaffinch and chiffchaff songs can be hear near the sewage works, and wrens can be heard throughout the woodland trail.
We still have around 600 swans and 3000 pink footed geese roosting on the mere. They are gearing up to migrate though, and our first GPS tagged swan made the journey to Iceland last week. It could be your last chance to see them till next Autumn.
A barn owl was flushed from Dohyles barn by the wardens this morning. Kestrels and marsh harriers can be seen across the reserve.
Keep your eyes peeled for wheatears, they have been reported in the area and it's only so long before we see one here.
The hot spells have brought out some butterflies. Brimstones have been spotted. They overwinter as adults take flight when temperatures are high enough. Brimstone are able to overwinter as adults as they have glycerin in their blood to prevent it freezing, the same stuff we use on our cars! A small tortoise shell was also spotted. Buff and white tailed bumblebees have also be seen making the most of the hot weather.
Roe deer and an ermine stoat were seen from Ron Barker. At least four hares have been seen from UU, Ron Barker and Gordon Taylor.
A toad was seen on the reedbed walk. It’s the time of year that toads will be migration to ponds to find eligible suitors.
Germander speedwells and violets have started to flower on the wildwalk and nature trail.
