Wildlife sightings 12th May 2022
Wheatear on the marsh and Great Crested Grebe chicks
1 Wheatear
60+ Swift
70+ Sand Martin
c7 House Martin
6 Pochard (pairs)
5 Gadwall pairs
2 Oyster Catcher (pair) - main lake
7 Lapwing displaying
4 Sedge Warbler
9 Reed Bunting
Breeding pairs with chicks are popping up all around the reserve now. We have a new family of Mandarin Duck with 7 young, Mute Swans with 6 young, Great Crested Grebe with 3 young, Egyptian Geese with 6 young, Canada Geese with 6 young and plenty of Moorhen and Coot chicks. Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing around the reserve. Dragonflies and Damselflies are emerging and many new flowers are popping up around the reserve. Small flock of mating Greenfinch in the north-east corner. Pied and grey wagtails seen today.
Flowering plants: Goat's Beard, Yellow Flag Iris, Yellow Rattle, Common Bistort, Jack-by-the-hedge, Bugle, Ramsones, Bluebell, Marsh Marigold, Lesser Celandine, Herb Robert, Cuckoo-flower, Ox Eye Daisy, Daisy, Dandelion, Rowan, Hawthorn, Hazel, Wild Cabbage, Dogwood.
Insects: Brimstone, Small White, Peacock, Holly Blue, Migrant Hawker, Blue Tailed Damselfly (Fi violacea), Azure Damselfly, Alder Leaf Beetle, Poplar Leaf Beetle, Thick-Legged Flower Beetle.
