Wildlife sightings for w/c 7th September 2020
Autumn migrants spotted including Siskin and Meadow Pipit. Winter duck numbers on the increase
30 House Martin
14 Swallow
11 Sand Martin
26 Meadow Pipit - over SW/S/W
2 Yellow Wagtail - over sheltered lagoon heading SE+S
22 Siskin - sheltered lagoon/south route including flyovers
7 Willow Warbler - sheltered lagoon, entrance area
10 Chiffchaff - south route, sheltered lagoon, entrance area
2 Kestrel - sheltered lagoon
2 Common Sandpiper - main lake
3 Snipe - main lake, scrape
60 Gadwall
50+ Teal
48 Shoveler
12 Wigeon
Dragonflies: (early September) Common Blue Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Willow Emerald Damselfly, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker (photo below)
Wildflowers and grasshoppers: (September) Tufted Vetch, Common Fleabane, Lady's Bedstraw, Meadow Vetchling, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Yarrow, Purple Loosestrife, Marsh Woundwort, Flowering Rush, Field Scabious, Devil's-bit Scabious. The grasslands and scrublands attract Roesel's Bush-cricket, Cone-heads, Meadow Grasshopper, Common Field Grasshopper and Dark Bush Cricket.
Reptiles: (5th September survey) Slow worms (13 juveniles, 31 female, 6 male); 12 Grass snakes; 2 Common Lizard.