Wildlife sightings for 2nd May 2016
1 Little Ringed Plover - main lake
6 Redshank - scrape
1 Kingfisher - entrance lake, then flew down south route
2 Common Tern - reservoir lagoon
3 Wheatear - a pair in the SW corner of marsh, and a male seen on a roof by the courtyard
1 Lesser Whitethroat - sheltered lagoon
1 Whitethroat - NE corner
10 Sedge Warbler - site count
10+ Cetti's Warbler - site count
Also very good numbers of Swifts, Swallows, and House and Sand Martins, all feeding low over the main lake.
April bird highlights: Shelduck, Little Egret, Hobby, Red Kite, Buzzard, Jack Snipe, Grey Plover, Curlew, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Sanderling, Dunlin, Caspian Gull, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Stonechat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Firecrest, Linnet.
There’s been some good spring migration on the reserve with sightings of Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Ring Ouzel, Swallow, Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, Wheatear and Willow Warbler. Lapwings and Redshanks are displaying and nesting across the marsh, scrape and main lake. The marsh water level has been gradually drawn down since early March so there’s plenty of muddy edges to attract passage birds at the moment. Look out for Yellow Wagtails feeding around the feet of the cattle, along with possible Wheatear, Pipits and Ring Ouzel out on the marsh.
Early flowering species: Hazel, Blackthorn, Cherry Plum, Hawthorn, Silver Birch, Willow sp., Aspen, Bulbous Buttercup, Butcher’s Broom, Butterbur, Colt’s Foot, Common Field Speedwell, Common Vetch, Common Whitlowgrass, Cow Parsley, Cowslips, Crocus, Cuckoo-flower, Daisy, Dandelion, Groundsel, Lesser Celandine, Forget-me-not, Marsh Marigold, White and Red Dead-nettle, Petty Spurge, Primrose, Common Mouse-ear, Sweet Violet, Winter Aconite.
Insects (and earliest March dates): Common Carder Bee(22nd), Early Mining Bee(25th), Grey-patched Mining Bee(11th), Hairy-footed Flower Bee(11th), Buff-tailed Bumble Bee(21st), Tree Bumble Bee(12th), Juniper-shield Bug(19th April), 16spot Ladybird(19th April), Small Tortoiseshell(17th), Brimstone(22nd), Small White(22nd), Peacock(17th), Comma(25th), Red Admiral(29thFeb), Dark-edged Bee Fly(29th), Holly Blue(19th April), Speckled Wood (19th April).
Water Voles: most Spring sightings have been along the south route, particularly near reeds or sedge. A Bank Vole was spotted (12th March) on the west side of the sheltered lagoon.
Reptiles: A reptile survey on 30th April found 22 juvenile and 7 adult slow worms and a juvenile grass snake.
