Wildlife sightings for 5th February 2012
1 Golden Plover - seen on wader scrape and reservoir lagoon 1 Ruff - male, main lake 5 Dunlin - reservoir lagoon 1 Bittern - seen flying from middle reedbed channel towards west end of mai [...]
1 Golden Plover - seen on wader scrape and reservoir lagoon
1 Ruff - male, main lake
5 Dunlin - reservoir lagoon
1 Bittern - seen flying from middle reedbed channel towards west end of main lake, 3:50 p.m.
3 Shelduck - main lake
15 Pintail - 9 on reservoir lagoon, 6 flew over E after circling site
1 Tawny Owl - hooting at 7 a.m.
13 Common Snipe - site count
1 Woodcock - flew across entrance area at 6:45 a.m.
2 Yellow-legged Gull - main lake
21 Common Gull - reservoir lagoon, scrape, main lake
12 Water Rail - site count
9 Meadow Pipit - marsh, and flying NW and NE
4 Skylark - flew NW
2 Stonechat - scrape, male and female
7 Cetti's Warbler - 1 singing, 6 calling
10 Fieldfare - waterlife, entrance area
120 Redwing - 50 on Queen Elizabeth Walk, 70 flying S/SW
1 Mealy Redpoll - wildside
2 Lesser Redpoll - wildside
23 Siskin - waterlife and wildside
Additional sightings from yesterday:
6 Pintail - main lake - 4 male, 2 female
1 Bittern - north side of main lake, opposite Dulverton hide
8 Snipe - main lake
1 Jack Snipe - main island opposite Dulverton hide
1 Curlew - flew W at 11:20
12 Common Gull - reservoir lagoon, main lake
133 Herring Gull - reservoir lagoon, main lake
1,460 Redwing - mostly flying NE though some dropping in and out
240 Fieldfare - mostly flying NW
18 Siskin - wildside and waterlife
20 Lesser Redpoll - wildside and waterlife
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Jack Snipe, Golden Plover, Ruff, Curlew, Dunlin, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Stonechat, Bullfinch, and Mealy Redpoll.
The grazing marsh is currently in flood and attracting large numbers of Teal, Gadwall, Snipe, Pintail and Wigeon. Jack Snipe can also be found on the marsh, along with Stonechat and occasional Pipit species.
Small flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Mealy Redpoll are feeding amongst the Alder and Birch trees.
The first Bitterns (2) arrived mid-October and can be found anywhere on the reed fringes of the main lake, sheltered lagoon, reservoir lagoon or main reedbed.
Look out for possible Scaup amongst the Tufted Duck flocks.
Cetti’s Warbler are becoming more vocal at present with at least 6 birds to be found across the reserve.
Fungi: Nitrous Bonnet (WW), Saffron Milkcap (WW), Candlesnuff Fungus (SL), Girdled Knight (SL), Silver-leaf Fungus (SL), Meadow Coral (EL), Clustered Bonnet (WD), Oak Mazegill (WD), Deceiver (WD), Ochre Aldercap (WD), Snowy Waxcap (EL), Leaf Parachute (SL).
Flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Hazel catkins, Blackthorn, Hawthorn (in leaf).
