noise

15.05.2010
A few unexpected noises and interruptions today.

there was a huge amount of noise upon my arrival, it turned out to be a great spotted woodpecker pecking an owl box.
A poor shot, but it shows the guilty party.
The box served to amplify his hammering -in a big way, if he wanted to make an impression, he succeeded.

here's a bit of a close up of the damaged box.

these mallard chicks now number four, there were ten.
Also with them is a presumed elder brother/ mongrel from an earlier brood. He is mentioned in Sam's previous blog entry,
also, he's the duckling featured in my post of 22.04.2010
I later saw the proper father return, so our mongrel must be the same hanger-on.

I think we may be parents soon!
There is already another successful pair of moorhens on the reserve.

to illustrate the interruption problems the reserve faces from careless people outside the site, this image does the job.
Here is a snap of a hound galloping along the Ver, it ran all the way past the inlet right up to the railway bridge.
There was nothing to stop him getting into the reserve and doing untold damage.
I find it incredibly irresponsible for owners to let their dogs loose like this.

What a lovely wintry scene!

The cold weather is bringing in some unusual sightings of dabbling and diving ducks.

Two 'firsts' for the Reserve:

Pochard (male)

Tufted duck (female)

And some occasional visitors:

Shoveler (female)

Two pairs of Gadwall

I managed to get some distant shots with my digital camera - but they were terrible.

Otherwise, an excellent day.

Sightings board

There is now a 'sightings' board in
the bird hide so interested parties
can see what wildlife has been
around in recent weeks. Any
comments will then be recorded
into a sightings book. Sorry it is
such a poor photo - the flash
kept going off as it is so dark
in the bird hide! There is also
a small 'sightings' blackboard
on the outside of the hide which
doubles up as an announcement
board for events and working
party details.

Wetland birds

On a walk around the Reserve in the first week of January, it was lovely to see a pair of Shoveler ducks and two male Teal. The Teal were so timid that they flew away at the slightest disturbance but the Shoveler were slightly less scared. There have never been recorded sightings of these two species on the Reserve before so it is a real treat to see them. We managed to get this poor photo of the male Shoveler. It is possible that these birds arrived here as many other lakes were frozen over and it has driven them to find open water. Strangely, the WWA lake never seems to freeze over when other lakes do. There has also been a Water Rail, a pair of Little Grebes and a Kingfisher about this week.

Teenage mutant ninja turtle!

Something stirred deep in the swamplands of the WWA - an intruder all the way from the Mississippi (or rather the local pet shop!)........a female Red-eared Terrapin which had grown to a length of almost 10 inches - now seen captured in one of our yellow trugs. She is safely in the hands of the RSPCA officer (literally) after probably having been released into the Reserve by an irresponsible pet owner. These terrapins were all the rage as pets in the 1990s when the T.V. series 'Teenage mutant ninja turtles' was broadcast . But when people bought them they were only tiny. Then they grew.......and grew...and people no longer wanted them as pets. How long she had been living in the 'Boggy Area' is unknown - apparently they can hibernate in mud for long periods. She may have surfaced recently as the temperature has risen. Committee member Jack thought he caught a glimpse of her some weeks ago - and he was right!

January

Sunday January 27th

Snowdrops have appeared along the riverbank. Maybe early, but about the same time as last year.

After due consideration of the Health and Safety policy and a detailed risk assessment, intrepid volunteers scale the site uplands looking for early flowering alpines.

.......and back at base camp by the lake, the traditional launching of straw into the water.

There is a perfectly good reason for this activity. If you want to know more, contact us via the website!

New arrival today - a lovely Little Grebe (Dabchick) fishing on the Mere.
Will try and get a photo later and see if it is one of a pair!

Ah, there you all are!

Where is everybody?

Twelve ducklings have hatched out and are whizzing around the Mere - but be quick to see them as the Heron is waiting in the wings for his supper! Yesterday, there was the first sighting of four Moorhen chicks - alas - today, only two remain. Many visitors have commented on how beautiful the Reserve looks today. And it's true!

Today - had first sighting of a Brimstone butterfly.

There are also three Grey Wagtails on the Reserve.

Violets, Primroses, Marsh Marigolds, Daffodils and Forsythia are all in flower

first contribution!

First a view of the site from the old railway route footpath/cycleway.

I hope anyone familiar with this view is able to cope with the lack of seating!

Experienced spotters will be able to identify the Sandy Glover amongst this flock of resident species seen on site mid January..............

... and patience is rewarded with a closer view...

A few members of the Wicket Brood Morris have also been seen performing early spring rituals ...

and they are not just pointing

out each other's inadequacies...

This rare breed is generally migratory and only seen briefly on site in January. Watch this space for the more unusual sightings.

First snowdrops

Sunny and windy today. Saw first snowdrops near toolshed. Also a marsh marigold near the far end of the bridge. Took photos of wintry teasels and our Green Man sculpture. Returned home covered in burrs, looking as if I had been sleeping in a ditch.

Recent sightings

Here are some recent photos taken from the bird hide by Keith, a regular WWA photographer. Clockwise from left: Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker .