Wildlife sightings for 4th July 2018
1 Kestrel - South route
4 Common Tern - main lake, reservoir lagoon
2 Shoveler - main lake
7 Teal - wader scrape, main lake
1 Peregrine - charing cross hospital
1 Grey Wagtail - otter enclosure
1 Sparrowhawk - main lake pm
June bird highlights: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Mediterranean Gull, Common Tern, Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard, Hobby, Little Egret, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Savi’s Warbler.
June bird highlights: A few pairs of Common Tern have been looking to nest throughout June, looking for space among the more numerous Black-headed Gulls. At least 4 Lapwing fledged from the marsh and there were plenty of young Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler around mid-month. Reed Buntings have raised a few broods as well (Reedbed and South Route). Sand Martins had occupied at least 65% of the nest chambers at the start of June.
Flowering plants: (end May-June) Ragged Robin, Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo-flower, Lesser Celandine, Bulbous Buttercup, Thale Cress, Hairy Bittercress, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, Common Field Speedwell, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Sweet Violet, White and Red Dead-nettle, Dandelion, Groundsel, Colt’s-foot, Butterbur, Field Wood-rush, Annual Meadow-grass, Bee Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Yellow Iris, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Common Vetch, Tare, Hop Trefoil, Tufted Vetch, Common Vetch, Yellow Loosestrife, Purple Loosestrife, Forget-me-not, Monkey Flower.
Amphibians: Marsh Frogs calling most sunny days in May/June – entrance lake, wildside and south route ponds and pools.
Butterflies/Moths: Red Admiral, Small Tortoishell, Peacock, Marbled White, Brimstone, Comma, Large White, Small White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Chocolate Tip, Yellow-barred Long-horn, Lime Hawk-moth, Hebrew Character, March Moth, Oak Beauty, Burnet Companion, Toadflax Brocade, Diamond-back Moth, Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, Elephant Hawk-moth, Eyed Hawk-moth, Dotted Fan-foot.
Dragonflies: Emperor Dragonfly, Hairy Dargonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Norfolk Hawker, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed Damselfly.
Other insects: Black-striped Longhorn Beetle, Common Malachite Beetle, Fairy Ring Longhorn Beetle.
Reptiles: 94 Slow Worms (40 juveniles, 34 females, 15 males) recorded on the latest reptile transect (May).
