Wildlife sightings for 13th September 2018
8 Wigeon - main lake
3 Snipe - main lake, wader scrape
48 Teal - wader scrape
3 Little Grebe - main lake
1 Yellow Wagtail - reservoir lagoon
1 Grey Wagtail - entrance lake
1 Stonechat - entrance lake
18 Blackcap - wildside, South route, sheltered lagoon
4 Reed Warbler - sheltered lagoon
1 Willow Warbler - sheltered lagoon
7 Chiffchaff - wildside, South route, sheltered lagoon
7 Meadow Pipit - grazing marsh and flying West
1 Wheatear - grazing marsh
1 Whinchat - wader scrape
1 Kingfisher - wildside
14 House Martin - reservoir lagoon
2 Sand Martin - wader scrape
6 Swallow - wader scrape
2 Hobby - flying West
1 Buzzard - reservoir lagoon
Please note there will be essential management work on the wader scrape, marsh and main lake September 18th-20th inclusive. This is to control the non-native New Zealand Pygmyweed; improve wader feeding areas; coppice tree blocks and hedgerows on the edges of the lakes. This work coincides with a water vole population survey over the whole site. Apologies for any disturbance this may cause.
August bird highlights: Shelduck, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Snipe, Common Tern, Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, Buzzard, Red Kite, Hobby, Little Egret, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher, Wheatear.
Wintering duck arriving throughout September. Shoveler numbers >100 at the start of the month, plus 70+ Gadwall, 45+ Teal and the first few Wigeon. There are still a few Sand Martins around plus many more Swallow and House Martins passing through. The hedgerows and scrubby blocks are full of migrant Chiffchaff and other warbler species. The marsh is good for migrant Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Meadow Pipit and Wheatear. Autumn waders feeding on the main lake and scrape include regular Common Sandpiper and Snipe, plus occasional Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Redshank. Other likely waders this month include Greenshank, Ruff, Dunlin and Whimbrel. Keep an eye on the cut patches of reed and sedge for possible Water Rail or even a Spotted Crake!
Dragonflies: (September) Emperor Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Ruddy Darter, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly.
Butterflies: (September) Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Clouded Yellow.
Moths: (31st Aug) Maiden's Blush, Pebble Hook-tip, Centre-barred Sallow, Red Underwing, The Sallow.
Reptiles: young Grass Snakes and Slow Worms found 25th August; young and adult Common Lizards in the long grass by wooden benches and bridges, particularly in the wildside.
Fungi: (Aug/Sept) Chicken of the Woods, Snowy Inkcap, Giant Puffball, Horse Mushroom, Split Fibrecap, Brown Birch Bolete, Field Mushroom, Bleached Brittlegill, Shaggy Parasol, Turkeytail, Fairy Inkcap, Fluted Bird’s-nest.
