Wildlife sightings for 3rd March 2012
1 Ferruginous Duck hybrid (possibly crossed with Chestnut Teal or Brown Teal) - scrape (no rings) 5 Pintail - marsh, scrape 4 Mandarin - flew into world wetlands 2 Shelduck - scrape 12 [...]
1 Ferruginous Duck hybrid (possibly crossed with Chestnut Teal or Brown Teal) - scrape (no rings)
5 Pintail - marsh, scrape
4 Mandarin - flew into world wetlands
2 Shelduck - scrape
12 Snipe - main lake, marsh
1 Peregrine - marsh
2 Sand Martin - flew through reserve a.m. (first record)
2 Redwing - entrance area
14 Redpoll - wildside
3 Siskin - sheltered lagoon
2 Kingfisher - main lake (perched outside observatory p.m.)
Recent bird highlights: Bittern, Peregrine, Buzzard, Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Woodcock, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Caspian Gull and Bearded Tit.
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 are feeding on the remaining Hawthorn and Holly berries.
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.
Moths: Oak Beauty, Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Dotted Border, Satellite, March moth,
Double-striped Pug, Grey Shoulder-knot, Ypsolopha ustella, Tachystola acroxantha.
Flowering plants: Marsh Marigold, Hazel catkins, Willow sp. (in leaf), Blackthorn, Hawthorn (in leaf).
