Wildlife sightings for 11th May 2012
2 Shelduck - main lake 2 Dunlin - scrape 2 Little Ringed Plover - scrape 4+ Redshank - main lake, marsh, scrape 15 Common Tern - main lake 30+ Sand Martin Recent bir [...]
2 Shelduck - main lake
2 Dunlin - scrape
2 Little Ringed Plover - scrape
4+ Redshank - main lake, marsh, scrape
15 Common Tern - main lake
30+ Sand Martin
Recent bird highlights: Red Kite, Hobby,Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Spotted Redshank, Iceland Gull, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Wheatear and Swallow.
With spring in the air the Cetti’s Warbler are becoming more vocal with at least 9 birds to be found across the reserve. Many Chiffchaffs have arrived along with smaller numbers of Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Garden Warbler. Goldcrests can be heard singing away by the Trappers Lodge cabin in World Wetlands along with many other common songsters like Blackbird, Wren, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Song Thrush and Chaffinch.
Lapwing are nesting on the main lake/scrape shingle islands and grazing marsh fields, and performing territorial flight displays. The first Lapwing chicks can now be seen on the wader scrape, grazing marsh and main lake (5 broods). The Sand Martins have also arrived and can be seen flying in and out of the nest bank.
The marsh will remain wet through early spring to attract a host of visiting waders and other wildfowl, as well as Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear. Look out for possible Water Pipit on the flooded field edges. The wader scrape is now being drained and wetted on a weekly basis to attract feeding waders.
Moths: Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, Chestnut, Clouded Drab, Esperia sulpurella, Epermenia chaerophyllea, Powdered Quaker, Light Brown Apple Moth, Early Grey.
Flowering plants: Cowslip, Cuckooflower, Cow Parsley, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Wild Cherry, Wood Anemone, Ramsons, Common Mouse-ear, Field Wood-rush, Marsh Marigold, Snake’s Head Fritillary, Red Dead-nettle, Primrose, Oxford Ragwort.
Water Voles: 5 seen in world wetlands, waterlife and wildside, Reed Swamp exhibit is a good bet near the sluices.
Butterflies and insects: Comma, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Small White, Common Bee-fly, 7-spot Ladybird, Large Red Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly.
Reptiles and amphibians: A recent survey revealed 85 Slow Worms, 3 Grass Snakes, 2 Common Lizards, and 6 juvenile Smooth Newts. There are also small numbers of Marsh Frogs croaking on sunny days. Listen out in wildside.
