A juvenile turnstone which appeared on New Flash on the 19th was the recent highlight, although it was always distant and in and out of the long grass at the water’s edge, the last reported sighting was on the 26th. An osprey was also reported by visitors flying over Lin Dike car park on the 21st, hopefully we may get a juvenile stopping over to practice its fishing skills, fingers crossed.
Flashes
The cattle egret is still present on the reserve and can be found around the flashes with patience, it roosts on the moat and is visible from the coal tips. Other waders of note on the flashes have been up to three common sandpiper, four green sandpiper, two greenshank, five curlew, two little egret, dunlin, two spoonbill, water rail and the juvenile turnstone. A great white egret was seen flying over the flashes on the 28th. Bittern sightings have been a bit more frequent with sightings at Hicksons Flash on the 24th and on the Phalarope Pool on the 29th.
Little egret - Pete M
Raptors reported have been red kite, peregrine, kestrel, buzzard, hobby, sparrowhawk, marsh harrier and osprey. A few migrants have also been seen on their journey south, a wheatear was noted on the 18th and 28th, a spotted flycatcher at Bulholme Lock on the 20th, and a redstart near the iron Bridge on the 29th. Other notable sightings have been of a grey wagtail on the sluice gates between Spoonbill and New Flash, kingfishers at Bulholme and Lin Dike, lesser whitethroat at Lin Dike and two ravens seen flying over on the 29th. A barn owl was seen in the Newton area on the 24th, and the first pintail of the autumn was seen on the 28th.
Wheatear - Pete M
Main bay and village bay
Not a lot to report from this part of the reserve recently but it will get busier as we move into autumn. Apart from the usual suspects sightings reported have been of kingfisher, sparrowhawk and a common tern.
The first spotted flycatcher was seen in the paddock of Cut lane on the 19th, the only other report is of a kingfisher on the 18th.
Spotted flycatcher - Mark Dillingham
Coal Tips
Up to five bearded tits have been seen on the south-east lagoon. The west lagoon has provided a couple of sightings of a black-necked grebe, with two wheatears seen on the track from the gate at the side of the lagoon. An elusive redstart was seen on the 21st and a spotted flycatcher on the 28th. Other sightings have been of skylark, three meadow pipits, green woodpecker, up to three common terns on Big Hole and a pintail on west lagoon. Two swifts were seen heading south on the 18th and six on the 29th.
Skylark - Pete M
Visitor Centre
The feeders are starting to get busier around the visitor centre, regular visitors reported have been willow tit, coal tit, nuthatch, bullfinch and great spotted woodpecker as well as the commoner birds. Red kites and buzzards have been seen over Newfield from the visitor centre. Pick Up hide sightings have been of kingfisher, cetti’s warbler, common sandpiper and a willow warbler. A treecreeper was seen on the Discovery Trail and a water rail was seen from the duck feeding platform.
Butterflies & Dragonflies
Current list of butterflies reported on the reserve are, meadow brown, common blue, speckled wood, red admiral, green-veined white, painted lady, comma, small tortoiseshell, gatekeeper, small white, large white, small copper, peacock
Painted lady - Pete M
Sightings around the reserve of, ruddy darter, brown hawker, southern hawker, migrant hawker, common darter, emerald damselfly.
Emerald damselfly - Pete M
Other
Bees noted have been large earth bumblebee, common carder bee
A fox was seen trotting in front of Lin dike hide on the 18th, and a toad was seen in the visitor centre car park on the 19th.
Fox - Pete M