April reserve update
April Reserve update
Spring has sprung earlier this year at Washington
Birds
The earliest returning avocet returned from its wintering grounds on the 23rd Feb a week earlier than the previous record. April has also seen new records set with 15 adult birds noted on Wader Lake and at least 6 pairs showing signs they will stay and breed (watch this space).
The Heron Colony is in full nesting and breeding mode and with the first chicks seen during early March, this is the best time to watch the progression of the nesting colony as soon the spring foliage of the trees will partially obstruct some of the 25 nests.
Spring migrants have started arriving on site such as chiffchaff, dunlin, sand martin and black-tailed godwit.
This year more than ever the plantation woodland around site has held drumming great spotted woodpecker males in North Wood, Wet Wood & the Gully. An amazing count of 7 G.S woodpeckers recorded together in the Gully area and 2 other birds noted in Hawthorn Wood make up a fantastic site count of 9 different birds during March. This could be down to the fact that the plantation woodlands are starting to mature some 40 years since they were planted.
Mammals
Wild Otter tracks have been regularly seen along the river, Lagoon and Spring Gill. These elusive mammals have also been captured on the reserve’s motion sensor camera.
Amphibians
With the milder wet weather, the toads have joined the frogs and have laid their strings of toad spawn which can be viewed from the board walk at the Amphibian Pond.
Insects
Bumblebees, small tortoiseshell & comma butterflies have been seen on the wing in March & April. Bee flies are out in good numbers.
Flora
A walk around site can reveal a host of spring flowering plants at present. The woodland plants such as wood sorrel & primrose in Spring Gill are in bloom, taking advantage of the light level before the woodland canopy is shaded out with this year’s new leaf growth. Other plants flowering at this time include gorse, blackthorn, cherry tree, willow, butterbur & red campion,
