Garden Warbler on the wader scrape bank and young Reed Buntings in the reedbed 9th June 2020
A great selection of breeding warblers on the reserve with Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler all around. Also dozens of Black-tailed Skimmers among many other dragonfly and damselfy species.
1 Little Ringed Plover - main lake
2 Oystercatcher - main lake
1 Buzzard - over W
2 Sparrowhawk - wildside
1 Garden Warbler - East Bank (not far from wader scrape hide)
3 Chiffchaff - wildside, sheltered lagoon
2 Reed Bunting juvs - reedbed
1 pr Blackcap feeding young - sheltered lagoon
Dragonflies: (early June) Common Blue Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Azure Damselfly (see 2nd photo below), Blue-tailed Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer (see 1st photo below of a female)
Amphibians: Marsh Frogs singing in wildside ponds, entrance lake, pond zone.
Water voles: one seen by Rain Garden on the south route (9th June).
Reptiles: 31 slow worm, 6 grass snake (19th May transect).
Wildflowers: wildside 'tall herb wet fen grasslands' are currently the best for species like Meadow Rue, Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Tufted Vetch, Hemlock Water-dropwort, Meadow Vetchling, Yellow Bartsia, Also to be found on the reserve there's Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bee Orchid, Coral-root, Yellow Flag, Common Vetch, Grass Vetchling, Ox-eye Daisy, Rough Hawkbit, Cat's Ear, White Water Lily, Fringed Water Lily, Water Forget-me-not, Branched Bur-reed, Greater Pond Sedge, Pendulous Sedge, Tussock Sedge, Marsh Woundwort and Purple Loosestrife all in flower.
Butterflies and Bees: (June) Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoishell, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small White, Holly Blue, Common Blue (see photo below), Andrena cineraria, Anthophora plumipes.
