Wildlife sightings for 12th August 2017

26 Teal - main lake, wader scrape, grazing marsh

14 Shoveler - main lake, wader scrape

2 Shelduck - main lake

2 Snipe - grazing marsh

1 Kestrel - grazing marsh

1 Kingfisher - sheltered lagoon

4 Chiffchaff - wildside

1 Peregrine - perched on the hospital

 

Sand Martins using the artificial nest bank on the wader scrape have now fledged over 500 chicks, with 471 of these having been ringed as of 10/08/17.

 

July/early August bird highlights: Oystercatcher, Garganey, Curlew, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Turnstone, Peregrine, Hobby, Arctic Tern, Kingfisher, Swallow, Garden Warbler, Stonechat, Grasshopper Warbler, Black Redstart.

Summer breeding birds on site include Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Lapwing, Little Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Little Grebe and Gadwall. Sand Martins using the artificial nest bank on the wader scrape have now occupied 90 nest chambers with 54 broods fledged so far (recorded early June). The wader scrape has several bro0ds of ducklings and a few wader chicks, making best use of the Purple Loosestrife cover to hide from predatory Gulls and Herons. Black-headed Gulls have had many broods this season with chicks and immature birds visible on the main lake rafts and islands. At the end of July the first post-breeding migrant wader species are being spotted daily on the muddy shores and islands.

Reptiles: 5 broods of Common Lizards recorded in wildside, and 5 broods along the south route (rain garden, duck tales, Dulverton hide bridge, wetland living building) - 10th August.

Insects: Butterflies: Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Small White, Comma, Peacock, Large White, Small Tortoishell. Bees: Buff-tailed Bumble Bees, Red Mason Bees, White-tailed Bumble Bee, Common Carder Bee, Early Mining Bee, Tawny Mining bee, Chocolate Mining Bee, Hairy-footed Flower Bee, Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee, Dark-edged Beefly. Common Flower Bug, Rove Beetle, Black-striped Longhorn Beetle, Leaf Beetle.

Dragonflies/Damseflies: Scarce Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Beautiful Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer.

Flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Red+White Dead-nettle, Lesser Celandine, Bulbous Buttercup, Forget-me-not, Common Vetch, Cat’s Ear, Common Knapweed, Common Mallow, Meadow Vetchling, Grass Vetchling, Monkey-flower, Self-heal, Red+White Clover, Meadowsweet, Betony, Marsh Woundwort, Tufted Vetch, Water Mint, Purple Loosestrife, Fleabane, Great Burnet, Hop Trefoil, Green Alkanet, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Field Scabious, Devil's-bit Scabious, Bird's-foot Trefoil.

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