First sight of the moorhen and a single chick.
With a bit of luck the offspring will stay hidden in the reed and evade the attention of predators!
Archive for the Category » first sightings «
Monday, January 16th, 2012 | Author: Steve
Could this be the true first sign of spring?
spotted on site early morning January 16th.
… too cold to be enjoying the view though ….
Category: first sightings, landscape
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Monday, May 17th, 2010 | Author: Keith
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.
Category: birds, first sightings
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Friday, January 08th, 2010 | Author: Sheila
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.
Category: birds, first sightings
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Saturday, January 10th, 2009 | Author: Sheila
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.
Category: birds, first sightings
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Wednesday, July 02nd, 2008 | Author: Sheila
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!
Category: first sightings, reptiles, unusual sightings
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Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 | Author: Sheila
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!
Category: birds, first sightings
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Sunday, April 29th, 2007 | Author: Sheila
Category: birds, first sightings
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Friday, April 27th, 2007 | Author: Sheila
Where is ev
erybody?
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!
Category: birds, first sightings
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Tuesday, March 13th, 2007 | Author: Sheila
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
Category: birds, first sightings, insects, plants
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