Wildlife sightings for 26th February 2012
1 Bearded Tit - seen by a visitor late on in the reeds by the Headley hide 1 Bittern - reservoir lagoon 4 Pintail - main lake and grazing marsh 113 Cormorant - main lake 2 Jack Snipe - [...]
1 Bearded Tit - seen by a visitor late on in the reeds by the Headley hide
1 Bittern - reservoir lagoon
4 Pintail - main lake and grazing marsh
113 Cormorant - main lake
2 Jack Snipe - main lake
13 Snipe - main lake and grazing marsh
1 Stonechat - feeding on grazing marsh
5 Cetti's Warbler - all singing: 1 reedbed, 2 north bank of reservoir lagoon, entrance lake, main lake by WWF hide
c. 15 Lesser Redpoll - feeding in alders and birches in waterlife
Also:
4 Common Lizard seen yesterday in waterlife
Lapwing seen starting a nest on the wader scrape
Recent bird highlights: Goosander, Bittern, Peregrine, Buzzard, Red Kite, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Ruff, Caspian Gull and Skylark.
The grazing marsh is currently in flood and attracting large numbers of Teal, Gadwall, Snipe, Pintail and Wigeon. Jack Snipe can also be found on the marsh, along with Stonechat and occasional Pipit species.
Small flocks of Siskin, Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Mealy Redpoll are feeding amongst the Alder and Birch trees. Redwing and Fieldfare numbers have risen dramatically with most choosing to feed on the berry-laden Holly trees and Hawthorns near the entrance lake.
The first Bitterns arrived mid-October and now up to 3 can be found anywhere on the reed fringes of the main lake, sheltered lagoon, reservoir lagoon or main reedbed.
Look out for possible Scaup amongst the Tufted Duck flocks. The cold weather is displacing many species so that any irregular species could show up on the reserve.
Cetti’s Warbler are becoming more vocal at present with at least 7 birds to be found across the reserve. Skylark are flying through with the occasional bird landing on the marsh.
Flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Hazel catkins, Willow sp. (in leaf), Blackthorn, Hawthorn (in leaf).
