Wildlife sightings for 7th March 2012
42 Wigeon - marsh and main lake 4 Pintail - marsh 88 Cormorant - main lake 1 Redshank - main lake Lots of Little Grebe activity today, with at least 12 seen across the reserve &nbs [...]
42 Wigeon - marsh and main lake
4 Pintail - marsh
88 Cormorant - main lake
1 Redshank - main lake
Lots of Little Grebe activity today, with at least 12 seen across the reserve
Additional sightings from yesterday:
7 Pintail - marsh and main lake
2 Peregrine - on building over river
1 Bittern - flew from west end reservoir lagoon to main lake. Later seen opposite Dulverton hide eating a large perch.
7 Snipe - main lake
19 Common Gull - mostly on scrape
356 Black-headed Gul l- mostly on scrape
1 Dunlin - marsh
7 Cetti's Warbler - site count
2 Collared Dove - Castlenau gardens, including display flight
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).
