Wildlife sightings for 27th May 2016
1 Shelduck - main lake
1 Little Egret - grazing marsh
3 Common Tern - main lake, wader scrape
Additional sightings from yesterday:
1 Little Ringed Plover - grazing marsh
2 Kingfisher - sheltered lagoon
1 Kestrel - sheltered lagoon
May bird highlights: Shelduck, Little Egret, Knot, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Iceland Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Kingfisher, Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Black Redstart, Redpoll.
There’s been some good spring migration on the reserve with sightings of Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Ring Ouzel, Swallow, Sand Martin, Garden Warbler, Wheatear, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler to name just a few migrants. Lapwings and Redshanks are displaying and nesting across the marsh, scrape and main lake. The marsh water level has been gradually drawn down since early March so there’s plenty of muddy edges to attract passage birds at the moment. Look out for Yellow Wagtails feeding around the feet of the cattle, along with possible Wheatear, Pipits, Whinchat and Ring Ouzel out on the marsh or the East Bank.
Flowering plants: Hazel, Blackthorn, Bird Cherry, Cherry Plum, Hawthorn, Silver Birch, Willow sp., Aspen, Bulbous Buttercup, Butcher’s Broom, Butterbur, Colt’s Foot, Common Field Speedwell, Common Vetch, Common Whitlowgrass, Cow Parsley, Cowslips, Crocus, Cuckoo-flower, Daisy, Dandelion, Groundsel, Lesser Celandine, Forget-me-not, Marsh Marigold, White and Red Dead-nettle, Petty Spurge, Primrose, Common Mouse-ear, Sweet Violet, Ragged Robin
Insects (and earliest March dates): Common Carder Bee(22nd), Early Mining Bee(25th), Grey-patched Mining Bee(11th), Hairy-footed Flower Bee(11th), Buff-tailed Bumble Bee(21st), Tree Bumble Bee(12th), Juniper-shield Bug(19th April), 16spot Ladybird(19th April), Small Tortoiseshell(17th), Brimstone(22nd), Small White(22nd), Peacock(17th), Comma(25th), Red Admiral(29thFeb), Dark-edged Bee Fly(29th), Holly Blue(19th April), Speckled Wood (19th April).
Water Voles: most Spring sightings have been along the south route, particularly near reeds or sedge. A Bank Vole was spotted (12th March) on the west side of the sheltered lagoon.
Reptiles: A reptile survey on 14th May found 40 juvenile and 26 adult slow worms, and 2 adult grass snakes.
