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.

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!

First thanks to Sam for the previous photos. Like dancing pandas, things only seem to appear when I turn my back.

On site on a very wet Sunday to look at things......

and I always have to remind myself that this patch of tranquillity is only 10 minutes walk from the city centre.

It's taking a lot of effort to create the seasonal pond.............

and it will be a particularly attractive feature, believe me!

No more suggestions for the shape though, it's supposed to look natural.

Fish and Other Critters

I went back and got some pictures of the fish, though it's not easy to do so when they're small and underwater. These were in the mere itself, right on the edge, next to the far end of the bridge. There was a shoal of about 50 or more.



Also spotted were both male and female bullfinches feeding at the same time. The male is the more colourful of the two, at the bottom.



I had my macro lens so I went hunting for smaller beasties. Here are some that I found. Note the three aphids line astern on the stem above the moth.

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

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 .

Howard's report for Nov / Dec

Wildlife report
There is not much noticeable at this time of year but the bats were still in evidence in November but are probably hibernating now. The Mallard population seems to be staying at the same level (between 15 -20 birds). A Sparrowhawk is sighted regularly, along with Great Spotted Woodpeckers (who are doing a great deal of damage to one of the old pollarded willow trees). Sheila has seen a Redpoll twice but no Redwings at all this year. Still, it is early days yet. There seem to be quite a lot of cats in the area which, unfortunately will take out the bank voles, etc, but they may also help keep down the rat population, so they are a mixed blessing!

Flora
A single Marsh Marigold flowered on Xmas Eve (or was first noticed then!). This must be a record. Some of the trees are in bud – it seems as if they have only just lost their leaves.