Wildlife sightings for 21st March 2025
First Willow Warbler singing, plus Wheatear, Sand Martins, Green Sandpipers and a singing Bearded Tit
2 Oystercatcher - main lake
2 Green Sandpiper - marsh
1 Little Egret - marsh
5 Sand Martin - scrape
1 Wheatear - scrape east bank
1 Willow Warbler - wildside (singing)
1 Bearded Tit - reedbed (singing)
8 Chiffchaff - wildside, sheltered lagoon, south route
4 Redwing - wildside, plus a few more over SE
1 Meadow Pipit - main lake, outside Headley hide
2 Kingfisher - reservoir lagoon 'grebe pool'
2 Redpoll - flew over wildside heading SE
The mid-March Water Rail survey found 12 calling birds across the reserve - reedbed, reservoir lagoon, main lake, sheltered lagoon, and wildside.
Bitterns can be found either on the north shore of the reservoir lagoon, or any of the main lake shores where there is a reed fringe.
Look for Siskins and Redpolls feeding in birch or alder trees (particularly wildside and sheltered lagoon). The south route feeders are attracting plenty of mixed finch species daily.
Wintering Bearded Tits arrived in December and can often be found in the main reedbed or the north shore of the main lake.
Butterflies and bees (early March)- Early Bumblebee, White-tailed Bumblebee, Honey Bee, Red-tailed Bumblebee, Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Small Tortoishell, Comma
