Wildlife sightings for 7th April 2015
1 Jack Snipe - grazing marsh
5 Snipe - grazing marsh, wader scrape
6 Redshank - wader scrape, grazing marsh
4 Meadow Pipit - flew over NW
3 Coal Tit - South route, entrance area
1 Peregrine - perched on Charing cross hospital
1 Kestrel -
End March/early April bird highlights: Shelduck, Garganey, Buzzard, Peregrine, Red Kite, Pheasant, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Jack Snipe, Little Ringed Plover, Kittiwake, Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Wheatear, Siberian Chiffchaff.
The first spring birds have arrived in the form of Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Blackcap, Little Ringed Plover and Redshank, as well as other migrants stopping off or passing through like Black-tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gull, Swallow, Willow Warbler and Wheatear. The wet, muddy pools of the marsh are attracting migrant Snipe (18 counted on the 17th March) and breeding Lapwing/Redshank. The wader scrape is now being flooded and drained over a fortnightly period to bring in a few interesting waders. A pair of Kingfishers have been seen excavating holes in both artificial Kingfisher Banks, so there’s hope that they may well nest successfully this year. Great Crested Grebes are paired up and displaying on the main lake and reservoir lagoon. Lapwings are actively scraping out nest sites on the main lake and wader scrape, as well as busily displaying to each other. A pair of Little Grebe are nesting in the reeds close to the Headley Hide.
Reptiles: First reptile survey of the year (2nd April). Slow Worm: 5 juvenile, 1 male, 1 female. Common Lizard: 3 juvenile, 1 adult.
Butterflies and other insects: 1 Red Admiral (1st March), 1 Brimstone (9th March), 1 Small Tortoiseshell (9th March), Small White (6th April), 8 Peacock (6th April), 7-Spot Ladybird, Bee-Fly, Miner Bee, White-tailed Bumblebee, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Common Carder Bee.
Flowering plants: Primrose, Red Dead-Nettle, Colts-foot, Marsh Marigold, Lesser Celandine, Bulbous Buttercup, Cowslip, Blackthorn, Wild Cherry, Wood Anemone, Sweet Violet.
Water Voles: 2 adults seen swimming in wildside near the first two bridges (5th April).
