Wildlife sightings for 11th March 2014
1 Bearded Tit - heard 'pinging' from the reedbed near to the Headley Hide p.m.
2 Shelduck - sheltered lagoon
6+ Redshank - scrape, main lake
1 Mediterranean Gull adult – main lake (long shingle island in front of Observatory). Also seen and heard in flight above the main lake
1 Pheasant - flushed from Queen Elizabeth Walk, flew over sheltered lagoon
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - both drumming, one alongside Castlenau, one along Queen Elizabeth Walk
1 Grey Wagtail - on building roof
39 Redwing - flew W and NE
2 Chiffchaff - south route
February/March bird highlights: Bittern, Jack Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover, Little Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Bearded Tit, Brambling, Mealy Redpoll.
Spring has arrived with many birds singing and displaying across the reserve. Among those now in full song are Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Cetti’s Warbler, Greenfinch, Wren and Reed Bunting. Lapwing and the first Redshanks of the year are busy performing noisy display flights and scraping out nests on the islands and fields. Great Crested Grebe pairs have been courtship dancing for several weeks now, being one of the earliest wildfowl to nest here.
Soon the Wigeon, Shoveler and Teal will start to depart for their breeding grounds in the north and east, but for the moment small flocks can be found on the partially flooded grazing marsh and on the steep banks above the wader scrape. A Bittern was still present at the start of the month; as ever we hope it may stay a while longer as the temperatures rise, before moving elsewhere to breed. The latest Bearded Tit sighting came from the SE corner of the main lake, at the end of February.
Any day now should see the first Wheatear and Sand Martin arrive from the south, with the promise of many exciting migrants to follow.
Early flowering plants: Red Dead-Nettle, Blackthorn, Field-Speedwell, Primrose, Mouse-Ear, Yarrow, Annual Meadow-grass, Annual Mercury, Alder, Aspen, Colt’s-foot, Common Field Speedwell, Common Lungwort, Common Whitlow-grass, Daisy, Grey Willow, Groundsel, Hairy Bitter-cress, Hazel, Lesser Celandine, Marsh Marigold, Petty Spurge, Shepherd’s Purse, Snowdrop, Wild Daffodil.
Water Voles: 4 individuals were spotted together along one section of the South Route, all feeding on Sedge roots and Reed stems.
Butterflies: Comma, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Small Tortoishell (all seen 9th March).
Amphibians: at least a dozen Newts have been spotted at the start of the month in the South Route ponds, along with one or two sightings of Common Frog.
