Wildlife sightings for 19th October 2017
1 Crossbill - flew S (0950hrs)
1 Firecrest - wildside (1205hrs)
1 Black-tailed Godwit - wader scrape
20 Siskin - wildside
1 Redpoll - wildside
2 Brambling - flew NW
1 Water Pipit - wader scrape
1 Wheatear
3 Water Rail - sheltered lagoon, main lake
1 Stonechat - grazing marsh
4 Snipe - wader scrape, grazing marsh
32 Redwing - flew S, N, SW and sheltered lagoon
14 Skylark - flew S, SW and E
1 Red Kite - over wildside heading NW 1300hrs
2 Buzzard - low over the reserve 1300hrs
1 Kestrel
1 Little Egret - main lake
October bird highlights: Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Red Kite, Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat, Linnet, Wheatear, Firecrest, Brambling, Skylark, Water Pipit, Crossbill.
Migrants are dropping in or passing through daily during October in the form of waders species, Warblers, Chats, Pipits, Wagtails and the last few Martins and Swallows. The fences around the marsh are a good spot for some of these passerines (like Stonechat), while the muddier parts of the marsh and wader scrape may have some waders (like Dunlin or Snipe). Tree blocks with a good mix of Willows may hold some interesting Warbler species, often mixed in with more common Tits and Goldcrests. Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler continue to arrive for the winter ahead. The first Redpolls and Siskins arrived early in October, followed by the first Redwings.
Fungi: Fluted Bird’s-nest(entrance area), Shaggy Parasol(world wetlands), Snowy Inkcap(overflow car park), Blackening Waxcap, Upright Coral(wildside), False Death Cap(Hornbeam car park beds), Bleached Brittlegil(world wetlands Birch trees), Brown Rollrim, Split Fibrecap(world wetlands), Gaint Puffball(wildside).
Butterflies: Red Admiral, Large White.
Dragonflies/Damseflies: Migrant Hawker, Ruddy Darter.
Flowering plants: Red+White Clover, Field Scabious, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Michaelmas Daisy.
