Wildlife sightings for 5th July 2012
6 Teal - main lake, scrape 2 Pochard ducklings - first reedbed channel 2 Gadwall ducklings - reservoir lagoon/wildside 2 Little Grebe chicks - main lake, sheltered lagoon 4 Common Tern [...]
6 Teal - main lake, scrape
2 Pochard ducklings - first reedbed channel
2 Gadwall ducklings - reservoir lagoon/wildside
2 Little Grebe chicks - main lake, sheltered lagoon
4 Common Tern chicks - main lake rafts
1 Little Ringed Plover - main lake
1 Green Woodpecker juvenile - near explore feeders with adult
Several young Lapwing are now gathering on the main lake. They can be easily separated from the adults by their almost complete lack of crest and slightly shabby appearance. These will be birds that have fledged from other sites in the area.
A Cormorant struggling to swallow a large Eel, finally managed it! Reservoir lagoon
Recent bird highlights:
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Buzzard, Hobby, Peregrine, Avocet, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Kingfisher, Nightingale, Crossbill, Wheatear. Common Terns are breeding on the main lake rafts with several broods. Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Little Grebe, Gadwall are all on nests throughout the reserve, but mostly hidden away amongst the thick vegetation on the islands Breeding success so far includes 1 Pochard brood, 2 Gadwall broods, 2 broods of Common Tern, 1 Little Grebe brood, 2 Cetti's Warbler broods, 3 Blackcap broods. There are 3 Whitethroat territories, 1 Chiffchaff territory and 1 Lesser Whitethroat territory. The scrape is drained and wetted on a weekly basis to attract feeding waders. Irregular waders of most species may turn up at any time this month so keep looking out for them. Also on the scrape the Sand Martins are nesting in the artificial bank. Watch them flying in and out as well as feeding over the muddy pools for insects. |
Flowering plants: Mallow, Marsh Woundwort, Cow Parsley, Field Scabious, Devil's Bit Scabious, Red Dead-nettle, Hop Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch, Grass Vetchling, Meadow Vetchling, Ragged Robin, Great Burnet, Salad Burnet, Herb Robert, Yellow Flag, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Water Mint, Common Spotted Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Bee Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, St.John's-wort, Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Loosestrife, Self Heal, Common Hawkweed, Common Knapweed, Yellow Bartsia, Brooklime, Yellow Rattle, Wild Parsnip, Monkey-flower, Water Plantain, Meadowsweet, Red Clover, White Clover.
Water Voles: June sightings include individuals in the canal leading up to Peacock Tower, the reed swamp exhibit in world wetlands and in the main reedbeds.
Butterflies and insects: Green Hairstreak,Comma, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Small White, Common Bee-fly, 7-spot Ladybird, Large Red Damselfly, Hairy Dragonfly, Common Blue Damselfly.
