Wildlife sightings for 24th May 2018
4 Black Tern - 1 main lake, 3 flying North
2 Common Tern - reservoir lagoon
2 Greenshank - grazing marsh, then flew offsite
4 Redshank - main lake
2 Shelduck - wader scrape
4 Shoveler - wader scrape
50+ Swift - South route, main lake
1 Red Kite - flying South
1 Peregrine - perched on hospital
April/May bird highlights: Temminck’s Stint, Goldeneye, Jack Snipe, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Glaucous Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern, Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard, Hobby, Redstart, Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit, Nightingale, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler.
The grazing marsh is attracting regular migrants like Wheatear, Whinchat, Swallow and Yellow Wagtail. Common Terns have returned and are looking for a nesting site. Several pairs of Lapwing are nesting on the marsh and scrape. The reedbeds are full of singing Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and Reed Warbler. Look for breeding and passage warblers like Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap in the woodland and scrub areas.
Flowering plants: (April-May) Ragged Robin, Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo-flower, Rowan, Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, Bulbous Buttercup, Thale Cress, Hairy Bittercress, Common Whitlowgrass, Parsley-piert, Wild Cherry, Bird Cherry, Cowslip, Cow Parsley, Primrose, Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, Gorse, Petty Spurge, Mediterranean Spurge, Common Field Speedwell, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Sweet Violet, White and Red Dead-nettle, Dandelion, Groundsel, Colt’s-foot, Butterbur, Garden Grape Hyacinth, Fritillary, Wild Daffodil, Grey Willow, Goat Willow, Purple Willow, White Willow, Crack-willow, Osier, Black Poplar, Aspen, Silver Birch, Field Wood-rush, Annual Meadow-grass.
Amphibians: Marsh Frogs calling most sunny days in May – entrance lake, wildside and south route ponds and pools.
Butterflies/Moths: Red Admiral, Small Tortoishell, Peacock, Brimstone, Comma, Large White, Small White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Chocolate Tip.
Other insects: Bee-fly, European Orchard Bee (Seen mating April 5th. First record for UK), Early Mining Bee, Clark’s Mining Bee, Red-tailed Bumblebee, Hairy Dragonfly.
Reptiles: 94 Slow Worms (50 juveniles, 27 females, 17 males) recorded on the reptile transect 5th May.
