Wildlife sightings for 3rd October 2012
2 Pintail - males in eclipse - scrape
20 Wigeon - main lake and sheltered lagoon
70 Shoveler - main lake, scrape
77 Teal - main lake, scrape
29 Pochard - main lake
60+ House Martin - over main lake
1 Swallow - main lake
Recent bird highlights: Gannet, Peregrine, Buzzard, Hobby, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher.
Autumn migration continues with the last of the summer breeding birds leaving southwards and the fresh arrival of wintering birds to the country. Its also one of the best times of year to find a rarity, particularly Warbler species and wading birds.
The wader scrape has been cut back to open up feeding areas for passage waders like Green Sandpiper and Snipe. Wintering duck like Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon and Teal have been arriving from the eastern continent since the start of August. Teal numbers are higher here during high tide on the river, as the birds need the reserve for available feeding and loafing areas.
Numbers of Swallows and House Martins migrating south-west have been very high at the end of September and early October. Meadow Pipits can also be observed flying through with a number landing to feed on the grazing marsh. Look at for migrating Wheatear and Stonechat on the marsh. The first Siskins of the autumn have recently been recorded, along with a few Redpolls.
Flowering plants: Devil’s Bit Scabious, Fleabane, Water Mint, Purple Loosestrife, Self Heal, Yellow Bartsia, Water Plantain, Meadowsweet.
Butterflies and insects: Red Admiral, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Migrant Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter.
