Wildlife sightings for 24th March 2016
1 Ring Ouzel (male) - marsh, feeding along the electric fence on the W-side a.m.
2 Redwing - flew NW
1 Shelduck - main lake
1 Short-eared Owl - flew NE 1130hrs
1 Red Kite - flew SW
1 Peregrine
2 Little Egret - marsh
2 Swallow
13 Sand Martin
1 Yellow-legged Gull - marsh
1 Caspian Gull 4th year - main lake
2 Mandarin (pr) - investigating a nest box on main lake island in front of Observatory
6 Redshank
7 Snipe
16 Wigeon
2 Stonechat - marsh
4 Chiffchaff
March bird highlights: Brent Goose, Shelduck, Goosander, Buzzard, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Woodcock, Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, Jack Snipe, Little Egret, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Iceland Gull, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Brambling, Crossbill, Wheatear, Water Pipit, Sand Martin, Swallow.
There’s been some good early spring migration on the reserve with sightings of Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Ring Ouzel, Swallow, Sand Martin and Willow Warbler to name just a few species. Lapwings and Redshanks are displaying and marking out territories across the marsh, scrape and main lake. The last few Redwings and Fieldfares are slowly heading east. February/early March have seen the highest counts of Shoveler this winter with most of the flock out on the flooded marsh, along with smaller numbers of Pintail, Teal, Wigeon and more unusual Gull species like Yellow-legged Gull. There’s plenty of signs of spring with singing Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Siskin, Dunnock and Robin.
Early flowering species: Hazel, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Silver Birch, Willow sp., Aspen, Bulbous Buttercup, Butterbur, Colt’s Foot, Common Field Speedwell, Common Vetch, Common Whitlowgrass, Cowslips, Crocus, Daisy, Dandelion, Groundsel, Lesser Celandine, Forget-me-not, Marsh Marigold, White and Red Dead-nettle, Petty Spurge, Primrose, Common Mouse-ear, Sweet Violet, Winter Aconite.
Insects: Common Carder Bee, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone, Small White, Peacock.
Water Voles: most March sightings have been along the south route, particularly near reeds or sedge.
