We’ve had quite a few cuckoo sightings over the last couple of days; one has been seen near Bob Dickens hide, Pick-up hide, along the riverside and at the feeder screen on the Discovery Trail. I’ve still not managed to see one yet so I’ll have to try a bit harder! Cuckoo's are well known for laying their eggs in other birds' nests which is called parasitising. The most common birds' nests they use in the UK include reed warblers, dunnocks and meadow pipits. Keep an eye and ear out for this bird which has sadly declined and is now a red status species.
Image of cuckoo from John Bridges-RSPB images.
There are loads of tree sparrows on the feeders near the visitor centre, one visitor counted 50! Also seen at the feeders are the usual suspects of goldfinches, greenfinches, great tits and blue tits, along with bullfinches and nuthatches.
We’ve had lots of sightings of great spotted woodpeckers on the reserve, along with a green woodpecker by the riverside. Sand martins have been seen using our sand martin wall at Pick-up so we're hoping that they have not been put off by the flooding last year. The kingfisher is making regular appearances at the screen and last week a visitor reported seeing an adult kingfisher with two juveniles, there have been no further reports though so we’ll have to keep a look out.
The little gull continues to be seen at Big Hole, whilst down at the Flashes there have been little ringed plovers and several redshank.
Small copper butterflies were spotted last week as well as large whites, speckled woods, brimstones and plenty of peacocks and orange tips. We’ve had lots of damselflies including azures, common blues, blue tailed and large reds, and also a couple of four spotted chaser dragonflies.
If you fancy coming along to see some of these summer insects we're running a butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies event this Sunday 16 June, at 11am and 2pm. We'll be on the lookout for creepy crawlies as well! And of course it's meet the moths at 10am this sunday too; we had a great variety last week in our moth trap. Both events are free, no need to book just drop in!