Wildlife sightings for 7th April 2013
1 female Marsh Harrier - flew over
1 Red Kite - flew over
3 Buzzard - flew over
2 Little Ringed Plover - scrape
1 Jack Snipe - main lake
8 Common Snipe
1 Oystercatcher (ringed) - marsh
5 Redshank - scrape and main lake
8 Water Rail - site count
4 Collared Dove - entrance area
2 Sand Martin - lingering over site, also seen flying into nesting bank
1 Redwing - flew E
21 Fieldfare - flew E
2 Bearded Tit - males, reedbed
11 Cetti's Warbler - all singing, site count
1 Blackcap - world wetlands
2 Siskin - flew N
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Little Egret, Peregrine, Shelduck, Jack Snipe, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Mediterranean Gull, Little 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.
