Wildlife sightings for 18th July 2018
1 Yellow Wagtail - flew over heading NW
5 Common Tern - main lake, reservoir lagoon
2 Little Egret - flew over heading E
4 Sedge Warbler - wildside, main lake
1 Kestrel - South route
1 Peregrine - perched on the hospital
Please note there will be essential management work on the grazing marsh this week, i.e. mowing and cutting to prepare the grazing marsh for waterfowl and to open up views from the hides. Apologies for any disturbance this may cause.
June bird highlights: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern, Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard, Hobby, Little Egret, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Savi’s Warbler.
June bird highlights: A few pairs of Common Tern have been looking to nest throughout June, looking for space among the more numerous Black-headed Gulls. At least 4 Lapwing fledged from the marsh and there were plenty of young Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler around mid-month. Reed Buntings have raised a few broods as well (Reedbed and South Route). Sand Martins had occupied at least 65% of the nest chambers at the start of June.
Flowering plants: (end May-June) Ragged Robin, Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo-flower, Lesser Celandine, Bulbous Buttercup, Thale Cress, Hairy Bittercress, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, Common Field Speedwell, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Sweet Violet, White and Red Dead-nettle, Dandelion, Groundsel, Colt’s-foot, Butterbur, Field Wood-rush, Annual Meadow-grass, Bee Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Yellow Iris, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Common Vetch, Tare, Hop Trefoil, Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch, Yellow Loosestrife, Purple Loosestrife, Forget-me-not, Monkey Flower.
Amphibians: Marsh Frogs calling most sunny days in May/June – entrance lake, wildside and south route ponds and pools.
Butterflies/Moths: Red Admiral, Small Tortoishell, Peacock, Marbled White, Brimstone, Comma, Large White, Small White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Chocolate Tip, Yellow-barred Long-horn, Lime Hawk-moth, Hebrew Character, March Moth, Oak Beauty, Burnet Companion, Toadflax Brocade, Diamond-back Moth, Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, Elephant Hawk-moth, Eyed Hawk-moth, Dotted Fan-foot.
Dragonflies: Emperor Dragonfly, Hairy Dargonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Norfolk Hawker, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed Damselfly.
Other insects: Black-striped Longhorn Beetle, Common Malachite Beetle, Fairy Ring Longhorn Beetle.
Reptiles: 94 Slow Worms (40 juveniles, 34 females, 15 males) recorded on the latest reptile transect (May).
