Wildlife sightings for w/c 22nd June 2020
Dozens of dragonflies and damselflies on the wing, regular Hobby, plus lots of fledged birds across the reserve
1 Greenshank - main lake
3 Little Egret - main lake, scrape
2 Oystercatcher - main lake
1 Hobby
1 Kingfisher - reedbed, main lake
3 Teal - scrape
7 Shoveler - scrape
3 Common Tern - main lake, reservoir lagoon, reedbed
1-2 Mediterranean Gull - main lake (most days this week)
Fledged birds spotted include Greenfinch (sheltered lagoon), Reed Bunting (reedbed), Chiffchaff (wildside), Sedge Warbler (marsh), Song Thrush (scrape hedgerow), Sand Martin (scrape/sheltered lagoon), Cetti's Warbler (sheltered lagoon), Blackcap (wildside), Reed Warbler (everywhere!).
Dragonflies: (late-June) Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer (see 1st photo below of a female), Southern Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Brown Hawker (see 2nd photo below)
Amphibians: Marsh Frogs singing in wildside ponds, entrance lake, pond zone.
Wildflowers: wildside 'tall herb wet fen grasslands' are currently the best for species like Meadow Rue, Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Tufted Vetch, Hemlock Water-dropwort, Meadow Vetchling, Yellow Bartsia, Also to be found on the reserve there's Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bee Orchid, Coral-root, Yellow Flag, Common Vetch, Grass Vetchling, Ox-eye Daisy, Rough Hawkbit, Cat's Ear, White Water Lily, Fringed Water Lily, Water Forget-me-not, Branched Bur-reed, Greater Pond Sedge, Pendulous Sedge, Tussock Sedge, Marsh Woundwort and Purple Loosestrife, Common Fleabane, Flowering Rush, Knapweed, Goat's Beard, Monkey-flower, Betony, Agrimony and Mouse-ear Hawkweed all in flower.
Grass Snakes: (w/c 22nd June) 1 adult in world wetlands, 1 sub-adult entrance lake, 1 sub-adult wildside.
Butterflies and Bees: (late-June) Marbled White (see photo below), Small Tortoishell, Red Admiral, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small White, Common Blue, Andrena cineraria, Anthophora plumipes.
