Cattle Egret and croaking frogs. Plus, lots of crested cuties!
New week, fresh thrills! Our wetlands are pulsing with life and that unmistakable quickening that whispers: spring is almost here!
The Gorse is out in force - bright sunshine yellow with a coconut scent that has to be sniffed to be believed; its brilliant blooms appearing in time to greet the starving emerging Bumblebee Queens as they set about starting this year's colonies.
Wildlife sightings from 23rd to 27th February
Highlights: Croaking Frog, Cattle Egret, Avocet, Marsh Harrier, Bar-tailed Godwit
The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count on 23/2 delivered a true wader spectacle for the reserve team: a superb 878 Black-tailed Godwits split between the Dafen Scrapes (770) and the Millennium Wetlands (108). Tucked among them, two determined Bar-tailed Godwits, with one bird secreted into each Black-tailed flock as if they’d had a small disagreement and needed space!
Over on the Dafen Scrapes, a lively raft of 164 Black-headed Gulls chattered over the shallows, while Deep Water Lake held an impressive 40 Snipe, their cryptic plumage melting into the reed-fringed edges until, whoosh!, they zigzag skyward and land again in perfect camouflage.
25/2, a female Marsh Harrier quartered both the Millennium Wetlands and Tir Morfa Marsh, stirring pockets of alarm as she skimmed the reeds and flocks with languid power. On Saline Lagoon, the wader line-up glowed with 148 Redshank busily piping along the margins, with one stoic loner holding court back at Dafen Scrapes. Duck numbers included: 122 Wigeon dabbling on the Saline Lagoon and 46 Wigeon over on the Dafen Scrapes, their whistling calls sewing the soundscape together. Two elegant Avocets flitted between the Saline Lagoon and the Freshwater Lagoon, all stark monochrome and balletic poise. We'll never tire of seeing those black-and-white babes. And yes, also still turning heads, a single gorgeous male Pintail lingering on the Dafen Scrapes, joined by smart Pochard and the shovel-billed charmers, Shoveler.
Songbird sparkle came on 24/2 when regular Bernie Beck picked out a jewel of the thickets: a Firecrest in the Grounds, its molten crown flashing between catkin-swagged boughs. Not to be outdone, Goldcrests have been flaring their fine orange crests too, like tiny torches in a tangle of willow and alder.
Invertebrate scouts have joined the cast: Reserve Manager Brian logged his first Buff-tailed Bumblebee queen of the year by the Visitor Centre on 25/2, a furred emissary announcing warmer days ahead.
Elsewhere, Deep Water Lake thrummed with action as a pair of Kingfisher made moves; lighting-blue comets staking out perches and plunge-diving with precision, while Lapwing displayed boldly across the open, their liquid calls rolling over the water. In other magic, a pair of Mistle Thrush foraged the car park with purposeful hops.
And then, on Friday (27/2), a mighty fine Cattle Egret dropped onto Dafen Scrapes, stalking the margins with that jaunty, purposeful gait. And after the mention of spring, as if on cue, a Great Crested Grebe has also just appeared on Freshwater Lake, all sleek lines, red eyes, and New-Romantic-style yearning for the arrival of its beloved. And as another herald of spring, the waterways of the Millennium Wetlands are alive with a frog chorus. No Paul McCartney to be seen, but Reserve Warden Pete has heard frogs croaking from hidden shallows, the soundtrack of a season turning. Surprisingly, we don't have many frogs here, so this is rather special!
From reedbed whispers to wader tides, these late-winter/early-spring days are bursting with colour, movement and hope. See you on the paths. Spring is on the way, dears!
