Wildlife sightings for 4th April 2012
1 Garganey - male, main lake 10 Wigeon - main lake 6 Redshank - scrape, main lake, marsh 5 Snipe - marsh and scrape 5 Sand Martin - lingering over main lake 9 Blackcap - mostly aro [...]
1 Garganey - male, main lake
10 Wigeon - main lake
6 Redshank - scrape, main lake, marsh
5 Snipe - marsh and scrape
5 Sand Martin - lingering over main lake
9 Blackcap - mostly around sheltered lagoon, also by dragonfly pond in wildside
6 Cetti's Warbler - site count
2 Willow Warbler - waterlife and near yurt
Additional sighting from yesterday:
1 Swallow - flew over main lake
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Redshank, Dunlin, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern.
The grazing marsh is currently in flood and attracting good numbers of Teal, Shoveler, Snipe, Pintail and Wigeon. Look out for possible Jack Snipe along with Stonechat, Skylark and occasional Pipit species.
With spring in the air the Cetti’s Warbler are becoming more vocal with at least 8 birds to be found across the reserve. Several Chiffchaffs have arrived and started singing, and the first Blackcap was seen during the second week of March. Lapwing are already beginning to scrape out nests on the main lake shingle islands while performing territorial flight displays. Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe are displaying regularly on the sheltered lagoon. The first few Sand Martins have also arrived (mid-March).
Moths: Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, Chestnut, Acleris literana, Ypsolopha ustella, Torticodes anternella, Agonopterix heracliana, Clouded Drab, Dotted Border, March Moth, Acleris cristana, Caloptilia semifascia, Mompha epilobiella, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Acleris hastiana, Calybites phasianipennella.
Flowering plants: Alpine, White Butterbur, Butterbur, Grey Willow, Goat Willow, Osier, Blackthorn, Cherry, Plum, Hazel, Alder, Lesser Celandine, Daisy, Common Whitlowgrass, Marsh Marigold, Snake’s Head Fritillary, Hairy Bittercress, Common Lungwort, White Dead-nettle, Common Field Speedwell, Green Alkanet, Primrose, Colt’s-foot, Ragwort, Groundsel, Dandelion, Petty Spurge.
Water Voles: There’s a particularly active individual in the ‘reed swamp’ exhibit in World Wetlands.
Butterflies: Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip, Red Admiral, Comma, Brimstone.
Bats: Soprano Pipistrelle (around main buildings), Daubenton's (resr lagoon)
