Wildlife sightings for w/c June 29th 2020
A few migrant waders on the move at the start of a blustery week
1 Common Sandpiper - main lake
2 Oystercatcher - main lake
2 Dunlin - flew on to reserve from the river
4 Common Tern - main lake
9 Shoveler - scrape
1 Little Egret - marsh
1 Kingfisher - world wetlands
1 Willow Warbler - wildside
5 Chiffchaff - wildside, sheltered lagoon
2 Peregrine - over main lake
3 Kestrel (adult and juveniles) - sheltered lagoon
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)
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, Peacock.
