Fabulous wildflowers and Marsh Harrier update
Weeks of hot sun followed by a bit of rain here and there has produced a botanical bounty all around the reserve!
Our wildlife hides are now open (except for the Sand Martin hide) and the views are spectacular. Oxe-eye daises are just going over but vanilla-scented meadowsweet is flowering everywhere. Also look out for a rainbow of colours with marsh woundwort, common valerian, birds foot trefoil, yellow rattle, purple loosestrife, skullcap, self-heal, yellow loosestrife black knapweed, figwort, meadow vetchling, feverfew, tufted vetch and great burnet to name but a few. Orchids are appearing with sightings of marsh, common spotted and bee orchids. This is all a smorsgasbord for the various species of bees, butterflies and other important pollinators, as well as being uplifting to the souls of all who gaze upon them!
Marsh Harriers
Our observations from the week before last showed that the marsh harriers seem to have failed in their attempt to breed. Although this is sad news, both birds were quite young and this was likely to be their first attempt. It appears that chick(s) had hatched by the behaviour of both adults, but it wasn’t long before both adults were spending more time away from the nest and eventually abandoned it altogether.
This failure was not due to any human disturbance as they have been completely unperturbed by people being on site. There are many reasons why breeding can be unsuccessful. The fact that the pair of harrier attempted it and in our reedbed bodes well for the future or this species at Arundel Wetland Centre.
- Suzi Lanaway, WWT Warden
