Wildlife sightings for 4th April 2013
1 Little Gull 1st winter - scrape, then drifted towards the river a.m.
2 Shelduck - scrape, main lake
1 Redshank - scrape
6 Snipe - scrape
41 Fieldfare - sheltered lagoon, resr lagoon
2 Wheatear - wader scrape/resr lagoon E bank
4 Chiffchaff - south route, sheltered lagoon, wildside
**The Peacock Tower will be closed all day due to high easterly winds. This is a necessary precaution because of loose roof tiles which will be repaired as soon as possible.**
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Little Egret, Peregrine, Shelduck, Jack Snipe, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Dunlin, Avocet, Mediterranean Gull, Wheatear, Bearded Tit, Stonechat, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit.
During March there were still 3 Bitterns on the reserve, with a single bird present at the start of April.
Regular Bearded Tit sightings continue with one or two birds being spotted among the tall Purple Loosestrife on the marsh, or in the main reedbed.
Wader passage is very good at present with recent sightings of Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover finally signalling the start of spring. Other spring arrivals have included Wheatear, Chiffchaff and Sand Martin, albeit in smaller than usual numbers so far.
Many of the winter birds are moving away with changing numbers of Fieldfare, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall and Wigeon.
Butterflies: Brimstone (2) and Red Admiral both on 5th March, but none spotted since the cold winds have returned.
Flowering plants: Cowslip, Marsh Marigold, Snowdrops, Crocus, Blackthorn, Daffodil, Red Dead Nettle, Hazel and Silver Birch catkins.
Water Voles: best place to see one would be one of the ponds near the Pond Zone building or ‘Down the Sewer’ exhibit. Also the ponds as you enter the wildside area from world wetlands – there’s plenty of feeding activity here.
