The water has subsided and the wind has dropped and the busy week has continued into the weekend with a huge variety of wildlife being spotted. There was a report of a water vole along the Pickup Dike on Thursday. Signs of these elusive creatures are sometimes seen around the reserve but an actual sighting is very unusual. 5 roe deer were seen near Bob Dickens hide on Friday as they run across the path in front of visitors. Both weasels and stoats have been seen a lot around the boardwalk and near Pickup hide. The biggest suprise of the weekend was the pipistrelle bat flitting in front of the visitor centre in the middle of the day! It was a fairly warm day and it spent a couple of hours flying around. It kept disapearing in the roof before popping out again. The increase in temperature probably disturbed it from its winter hibernation but it definately had its body clock out of sync.
Bird wise up to 3 female smews were seen on the main bay. Goosanders, pochards, pintails, shovelers and shelducks are all very much in evidence. The long eared owls have been seen on some days and two were present on Saturday. Also in the Lin Dike area were dunlin and golden plover and the white fronted geese are still in residence. An amazing 74 curlews were counted at the flashes and two ostercatchers were seen were also present during the weekend.
The feeders are still alive with birds but the food doesnt seem to be disappearing as quickly which suggests that the birds are managing to seek food elsewhere. The usual suspects have all be seen including willow tits, bullfinches, goldfinches, long tailed tits and tree sparrows. Flocks of redpoll and siskins are still being seen in the birches around the boardwalk and treecreepers are a common sight.
Is all of this activity the first indication that spring is just around the corner? I do hope so!