Wildlife sightings for 9th January 2012
182 Teal - scrape, grazing marsh, sheltered lagoon 20 Snipe - grazing marsh 55 Cormorant - main lake 6 Redwing - entrance area 2 Stonechat - grazing marsh 41 Lesser Redpoll - wilds [...]
182 Teal - scrape, grazing marsh, sheltered lagoon
20 Snipe - grazing marsh
55 Cormorant - main lake
6 Redwing - entrance area
2 Stonechat - grazing marsh
41 Lesser Redpoll - wildside and waterlife
1 Slow Worm - juvenile. This is our earliest record yet of an active reptile at London Wetland Centre.
Additional sightings from yesterday:
3 Jack Snipe - main lake
1 Pintail - male, scrape
22 Lesser Redpoll - waterlife
1 Common Frog - wildside
12 Smooth Newt - wildside
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Pheasant, Yellow-legged Gull, Peregrine, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Caspian Gull, Stonechat, Bullfinch.
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.
Check through any Tit flocks for possible Goldcrest and Firecrest at this time of year. Over-wintering Chiffchaff will often feed with these flocks as well. There are at least 5 Cetti’s Warbler on the reserve.
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.
Listen out for the distinctive ‘pinging’ call of Bearded Tits that have recently been spotted in the reedbeds. Further small flocks of this species can be expected as temperatures drop.
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.
