Spring has arrived and here is a taster of the reserve’s latest seasonal sightings
Chiffchaff
This noisy little bird made his debut two weeks ago. Elusive at first, hidden among the trees in the young woodland, chiffchaffs can now be seen belting out their distinctive song atop some of the reserve’s tallest trees. Although it is a migratory bird, the chiffchaff is among the first species to return to their breeding territory in spring and the last to leave in autumn, an unmistakable sign of seasonal change.
Chiffchaff., RSPB Image
Mayfly and Stonefly Larvae
Out surveying the Coombes Brook this week I came across hundreds of Mayfly and Stonefly larvae. Great food for dippers! We used a kick sampling method which involved my wellies and I getting into the water and kicking up the sediment to then be collected in a net downstream. These two larvae look very alike but a useful tip I was told is that mayfly larva have three tails while stonefly have just two. What we find during surveys like this helps us to judge the quality of the water and thankfully these freshwater minibeasts are a positive sign. If you’re interested in creatures that live in watery homes, pond-dipping runs everyday at Coombes, just check the website for details.
Grey Wagtail
The banks near fast running streams are the favoured nesting spots of grey wagtails and the bridge beneath the fairy oak makes the perfect viewing platform to watch our newly settled population. Grey wagtails are known for their displays; the male attempts to impress by singing a fast-paced series of high notes as he makes a slow, fluttering descent through the air. Though the reason for the unmistakable wagging of a wagtail’s tail is not entirely understood it is thought to aid them in catching insects, displaying and communicating with each another.
Forget-me-not, Simon Gray
Forget-me-not
Forget- me-nots have begun to spring up in the car park. Their little blue flowers are a common sight in our gardens and in woodland though they really flourish in wetter habitats such as wetlands and riverbanks. There are many stories as to how the forget-me-not came by its name, a famous German legend asserts that when God named all the plants a single unnamed one cried out, ‘Forget me not, Lord!’ and the name stuck. In the past the name also motivated women to wear them as a symbol of faithfulness and endless love.
What updates to you have? Has your frogspawn hatched? What have you seen growing in the hedgerows? We’d love you to keep us up to date!