Wildlife sightings for 24th October 2018
1 Shelduck - main lake
8 Snipe - grazing marsh, main lake, wader scrape
12 Meadow Pipit - flew over heading S, SW
1 Peregrine - perched on hospital
7 Mandarin - main lake
5 Water Rail - main reedbeds
October bird highlights: Shelduck, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Pintail, Spotted Flycatcher, Redshank, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Peregrine, Little Egret, Whinchat, Stonechat, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Brambling, Buzzard.
Colder weather in early October has seen the arrival of the first winter passerines like Brambling, Redwing, Stonechat and Siskin. Jack Snipe have arrived, having been spotted on the wetter grazing marsh fields and main lake Sedge islands. Other migrants on the move include Meadow Pipit, Whinchat, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank.
Dragonflies: (end September) Emperor Dragonfly, Migrant Hawker, Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly.
Butterflies: (October) Red Admiral, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Brimstone.
Moths: (end September) Angle Shades, Beautiful Plume, Box Moth, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix, Large Wainscot, Rush Veneer, Rosy Rustic, Small Dusty Wave, Vestal, Copper Underwing.
Fungi: (September) 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.
