We survived storm Doris and thank you to the brave visitors who came to the reserve on Thursday!
There have been a variety of birds around on the reserve this week. Our beautiful smew have been seen mostly from Christmas Dell hide but have been moving about.
Male smew in flight, female (redhead) smew on the water - by Graham Parry
We had 200 shoveler on Burrowes pit and other ducks seen include: the ring-necked duck, goosander, goldeneye and pintail.
5 Ruff are lurking in Boulderwall fields in amongst 220 Golden Plover and 1000+ Lapwing. Slavonian Grebes (up to 3) have been seen regularly on New Diggings and south ARC.
40 stock doves were seen yesterday by Denge Marsh and a curlew has been seen on the reserve too. Our two long-eared owls have been showing well this week and have been seen today!
We've also had hen harriers and sparrowhawks over the reserve as well as our usual marsh harriers and the occasional buzzard. A Dartford warbler, goldcrests, chiffchaffs, stonechats and bearded tits have also been seen.
Spring’s afoot so listen out for male Bittern clearing their throats for some seductively sonorous booming! Great crested grebes have regularly been seen doing their graceful yet slightly amusing courtship dance at Denge Marsh.
Great crested grebe courtship - by Graham Parry
Big queen bumblebees have been seen around the reserve. The newts are also awake from their hibernation and back out in their numbers on damp evenings. Hares and stoats have also been seen on the reserve too.