Wildlife sightings for 18th October 2013
1 Pintail - wader scrape
62 Wigeon - grazing marsh, sheltered lagoon, main lake
2 Water Rail - grazing marsh infront of wildside hide
14 Song Thrush - flew over W
5 Redwing - South route, sheltered lagoon
10 Meadow Pipit - over site
50 Goldfinch - South route
5 Siskin - World wetlands with small flock of Goldfinch
3 Blackcap - South route
Recent bird highlights: Garganey, Bittern, Spoonbill, Jack Snipe, Peregrine, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Water Pipit, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Brambling.
September was great for spotting a range of exciting migrants, thanks in some way to several days of poor weather which often grounds migrants that are flying through. For instance a low pressure system in the North Sea produced some unusual inland Skua sightings one morning. On a different day a Black Tern and several species of wader appeared out of the murk following some very heavy showers. Good daily numbers of House Martin and Sand Martin continued through the first half of the month, along with plenty of sightings of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whinchat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Swallow. Nearly all of the Reed and Sedge Warbler departed, except for the odd individual. Some notable raptors included 2 Goshawks in the same day, and a large Saker-type Falcon that chased a freshly arrived Ruff all around the main lake before giving up the chase. Snipe numbers suddenly leapt up to 20+ birds on the 13th with a clear influx of migrant birds arriving overnight or early morning.
In late September the marsh was flooded up along with the wader scrape (this is because we are due to lose our water supply for 3 months and need to pool as much water as possible for recirculation purposes) which has attracted massive numbers of Snipe (a count of at least 70 birds was made Sept 28th!) as well as Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal. Migrants have included Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Nightjar, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Black-tailed Godwit, Swallow and more Whinchats.
Early October has seen the first Bittern arrive, earlier than ever this year, along with the first Redwing and Siskin. Look out for large numbers of Pipit and Finch species on the move this month.
Butterflies and other invertebrates: Brimstone, Red Admiral, Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood. Dragonflies:- Migrant Hawker, Common Darter.
Water voles: the latest on-site population study has shown that all the water voles are in very good condition and the males are ranging quite some distance. The majority of captures were in the reedbed channels, despite there being signs of plenty of activity in the pools and meanders inside of Wildside (latrine sites, feeding sites and burrows).
Flowering plants: Self-heal, Cat’s-ear, Prickly Oxtongue, Common Knapweed, Yarrow, Red Dead-nettle, Michaelmas Daisy, Field Scabious, Devil’s Bit Scabious, Great Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Dandelion, Meadow Buttercup, Red Clover, White Clover, Figwort, Yellow Water-Lily, Fleabane.
Bats: (from the last two bat walks held at the centre) – Soprano Pipistrelle>Nathusius Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s, Leisler’s, Common Pipistrelle.
