Whilst out on site last week, I phoned volunteers Joan Spencer and Mike Larke who were carrying out a perimeter check, to let them know about four wheatears that I was watching.
However, they weren't interested in the wheatears as A) they'd already seen them and B) they were looking at something rather more out of the ordinary (sorry wheatears). They'd spotted a pair of grass snakes, mating in Beckingham Main Drain, the ditch that runs along the eastern edge of the reserve.
This is certainly something that I've never seen before and the best view that I've had of any wild snake. The female was a good 1 metre in length and if you look at the image below, you may be able to see the much smaller male's tail, wrapped around hers.
Thanks to the RSPB's David Beach for the above image.