Wildlife sightings for 22nd March 2014
6 Redshank - wader scrape, main lake
9 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape, sheltered lagoon
3 Sand Martin - over wader scrape, sheltered lagoon
1 Meadow Pipit
12 Chiffchaff - sheltered lagoon, wildside, South route
1 Blackcap - sheltered lagoon p.m.
1 Wheatear - scrape bank p.m.
1 Barnacle Goose - flew onto site with 10 Greylag Goose before heading W
2 Peregrine
March bird highlights: Jack Snipe, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Bearded Tit, Brambling, Linnet, Wheatear.
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. The first Sand Martin was recorded on the 15th. The first Wheatear was spotted on the marsh 21st March. A surge in Chiffchaffs was noted on the 22nd and there should be a Willow Warbler dropping in any day now.
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 record was one calling near the Headley hide on the afternoon of the 11th.
Early flowering plants: Red Dead-Nettle, Blackthorn, Field-Speedwell, Primrose, Mouse-Ear, Yarrow, Annual Meadow-grass, Annual Mercury, Alder, Aspen, Common Field Speedwell, Common Whitlow-grass, Daisy, Grey Willow, Groundsel, Hairy Bitter-cress, Hazel, Lesser Celandine, Marsh Marigold, Petty Spurge, Shepherd’s Purse, Snowdrop, Wild Daffodil, Sweet Violet, Colt's-foot, Thale Cress, Butterbur, Cow Parsley, Cowslip, Field Scabious, Herb Robert, Green Alkanet.
Water Voles: 4 individuals were spotted together along one section of the South Route, all feeding on Sedge roots and Reed stems.
Butterflies and Moths: Comma, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White. Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Oak Beauty, March moth, Dotted Border, Herald, Agonopterix alstromeriana, Chestnut, Agonopterix heracliana.
Other insects: White-tailed Bumblebee, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Tree Bumblebee.
Amphibians: at least a dozen Smooth Newts have been spotted at the start of the month in the South Route ponds, along with one or two sightings of Common Frog. Common Toad has also been heard.
Bats: 1 Nathusius’ Pipistrelle (seen), a few Soprano Pipistrelle (on bat detector).
Reptiles: 7 Common Lizards, 11 juvenile Slow Worm, 7 adult Slow Worm (16th March).
