Wildlife sightings for 7th September 2015
1 Common Sandpiper - main lake
1 Peregrine - hunting low over main lake, then flew W
4 Meadow Pipit - flew W
1 Kingfisher - south route
110 House Martin - main lake
8 Sand Martin - main lake
2 Swallow - main lake
27 Siskin - wildside
September bird highlights: Wigeon, Little Egret, Hobby, Kestrel, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Snipe, Kingfisher, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Siskin.
September is a peak month for bird passage activity. Expect more wader species to come through daily, as well as a range of passerines like Warblers, Martins, Swallows and Pipits. The summer visitors are starting to leave while the wintering birds, like Wigeon and Shoveler, continue to arrive for the colder months ahead.
Dragonflies and Damselflies: Large Red Damselfly, Azure/Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Brown Hawker, Emperor Dragonfly, Migrant Hawker.
Reptiles: Adult Grass Snake swimming along the edge of the Wildside pond (near the gateway into World Wetlands) early August; also a semi-adult spotted sheltered lagoon. best place for Common Lizards is along the pathway between Wildside gate and the Reedbeds (early August). Late August: 3 new-born Slow Worm found in NW corner of site, juvenile Common Lizards found in entrance area.
Butterflies and other insects: Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Large White, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Comma, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Bee-Fly, Miner Bee, White-tailed Bumblebee, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Common Carder Bee.
Moths: (July/August) 6-Spot Burnet, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Yellow Shell, Brown Silver-line, Silver Y, Jersey Tiger.
Flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Rough Hawkbit, Cat’s Ear, Meadowsweet, Meadow Rue, Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch, Meadow Vetchling, Tare, Cuckoo Flower, Southern Marsh Orchid, Ragged Robin, Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Wild Carrot, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Water Plantain, Flowering Rush, Greater Pond Sedge, Pendulous Sedge, Spike Rush, Soft Rush, Hard Rush, Yellow Iris, Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Loosestrife, Water Mint, Branched Bur-reed, Lady’s Bedstraw and many more. The wet fen meadows in Wildside look at their very best at the moment, and this community is one of the most diverse on the reserve.
