Wildlife sightings for 24th May 2022
3 Little Ringed Plover on the main lake
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher - wader scrape
1 Teal - scrape
50 Swift
80+ Sand Martin
28 Gadwall
3 Shoveler
1 Hobby - soaring high to the NE of the site
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
The Overview: Reed Warbler (60+), Cetti's Warbler (25+), Sedge Warbler (5+), Chiffchaff and Blackcap (20+) all singing around the reserve. Dragonflies and Damselflies are on the wing or emerging and many new summer flowers are popping up around the reserve, including orchids in the wildside. Lots of Hirundinidae and Apodidae filling the skies! Sparrowhawk braving the showers on the west bank and a male Common Kestrel on the east bank. The Sparrowhawk have been seen fairly regularly recently, hopefully becoming more active because they are nesting nearby. You might see them swooping through the trees of Wildside or World Wetlands. The Kestrel is a regular visitor and loves the wild grasslands and wildflower meadows found around the reserve. It's amazing how quickly Kestrels will react and recolonise rewilded grasslands and brownfield sites. They are an excellent indicator species for small mammals and the reserves team regularly see both Bank Voles and Field Voles sneaking through the hedgerows. Subtly fragrant Dogrose is bringing summer pinks to the banks and green backdrops.
Flowering plants: Great Burnet, Salad Burnet, Bee Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Cut-leaved Crane's-bill, Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, Goat's Beard, Yellow Flag Iris, Yellow Rattle, Common Bistort, Jack-by-the-hedge, Bugle, Herb Robert, Cuckoo-flower, Ox Eye Daisy, Rowan, Wild Cabbage, Dogwood, Guelder Rose, Bramble, Common Vetch, Dog Rose, Elder, Common Mallow, Birds-foot Trefoil, Grass Vetchling, Deptford Pink, Beaked Hawksbeard, Smooth Hawksbeard, Creeping Cinquefoil, Red Campion, White Water Lily.
Insects: Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Peacock, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Green Veined White, Painted Lady, Small Heath, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-Bodied Chaser, Black-Tailed Skimmer, Hairy Dragonfly, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Alder Leaf Beetle, Poplar Leaf Beetle, Wasp Beetle, Thick-Legged Flower Beetle, Ruby-Tailed Wasp, Lacewing.
