Wildlife sightings for 19th December 2015
1 Goldeneye - flew across the reserve from the river
3 Pintail - reservoir lagoon, grazing marsh
212 Teal - grazing marsh
9 Snipe - grazing marsh, main lake
6 Redwing - South route
1 Tree Creeper - sheltered lagoon
9 Siskin - South route, sheltered lagoon
December bird highlights: Bittern, Shelduck, Goldeneye, Jack Snipe, Dunlin, Stonechat, Brambling, Water Pipit, Treecreeper.
Bittern can be found on the main lake reed fringes, particularly the south-east corner or the north shore at present, but has also been spotted on the reservoir lagoon mid-December. Jack Snipe (up to 4 seen since the start of autumn) are on the marsh along with up to a dozen Common Snipe. Redpolls and Siskins can be searched for in any of the Alder trees along the south route or wildside. Small flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare are passing through almost daily and numbers should increase if the temperatures drop, and smaller numbers of Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Brambling and other Finch species can also be observed migrating over the reserve. Teal and Wigeon are all over the wet grazing marsh fields, looking at their colourful best after the late summer feather moult. There’s been a long-staying female Goldeneye out on the reservoir lagoon in the company of a few pairs of Tufted Duck. Listen out for possible Bearded Tits in the reedbeds this winter.
Bats: Pipistrelle spotted several nights in early December hunting in front of the Observatory.
Fungi: Fungus forays run on 24th September, 8th and 22nd October have turned up some interesting species that we are lucky to have on site. These have included species that are nationally rather more uncommon: the Girdled Webcap, the Girdled Knight, Russula atrorubens (a very rare brittlegill species), Blushing Rosette, Inocybe squamata, Thelophora penicillata, etc; also rather colourful species: Blackening Waxcap, Parrot Waxcap (a new site record), Blue Roundhead, Redlead Roundhead, Garland Roundhead, Chicken of the Woods, Beefsteak Fungus, Sulphur Tuft, etc; and then those with names that have an air of Halloween or superstition about them: Witches’ Butter, Yellow Brain, Weeping Widow, Dead Man’s Fingers, Dead Moll’s Fingers, Candlesnuff Fungus, Birch Woodwart, Hazel Woodwart, Hairy Earthtongue, Dryad’s Saddle, Fairy Inkcap, Fairy Ring Champignon, Elfin Saddle, etc.
Reptiles: Common Lizards have been found, even in December, mostly along the South Route.
