Spotted Flycatcher in wildside
Spotted Flycatcher feeding in wildside this morning. Dunlin and Little Ringed Plovers by Dulverton Hide. Hobby hunting over the wader scrape and main lake
1 Hobby - scrape, main lake, marsh
4 Little Ringed Plover - main lake, scrape
1 Dunlin - main lake
2 Redshank - scrape
4 Lapwing juveniles - scrape
2 Common Tern - main lake
1 Spotted Flycatcher - wildside wet woodland bank (west of 'Field Lab' structure)
May bird highlights: Shelduck, Garganey, Turnstone, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-Tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite, Hobby, Common Tern, Iceland Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher (see below), Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale.
Spring migrant passerines recorded so far include Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Sand Martin, Swallow, Swift, Yellow Wagtail, House Martin, Skylark, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat and Wheatear.
Migrant waders can best be found on the muddy marsh or the wader scrape. Lapwing and Redshank are breeding in both these habitats. Sand Martins have had their first chicks in the Sand Martin Bank (at least 75% of nest chambers occupied by early May). There's plenty of warber species to be found in the scrubby areas of the reserve, Chiffchaffs are singing from the woodlands, Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail are on the marsh (especially along the bare ground fence lines on the marsh banks), and there are dozens of Reed Warbler singing from all the reedbed areas. Look for Hobby hunting Dragonflies and Sand Martins.
Invertebrates: (mid-May) Rose Chafer, Honey Bee, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Yellow-legged Mining Bee, White-tailed Bumblebee, Grey Patch Mining Bee, Tree Bumblebee, Red-tailed Bumblebee, Cuckoo Bee sp., Brimstone, Comma, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange Tip, Small White, Large White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Red Willow Leaf Beetle, Red-tipped Clearwing (see below - photo by Alex Veltze), Birch Catkin Bug, Leather Bug sp., Parent Bug, Robber Fly sp.,Umbellifer Longhorn Beetle, Click Beetle, Red-headed Cardinal Beetle, St.Mark's Fly, Plum Longhorn Beetle, Common Zebra Spider, Hairy Dragonfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfy, Broad-bodied Chaser, Large Red Damselfly.
Water voles: sighting 2nd May - 2 Water Vole feeding in sedge along the south route (opposite the Dulverton Hide).
Flowering plants: Blackthorn, Southern Marsh Orchid, Daisy, Lesser Celandine, Cuckoo-flower, Wood Anemone, Cut-leaf Cranesbill, Marsh Marigold, Yellow Iris, Cow Parsley.
Reptiles: Common Lizards (juvenile), Slow Worms (78 juveniles, 13 females, 17 males), 1 Grass Snake (juvenile - see below) - 18th May survey.
