Spring is well on it’s way now, with migrants continuing to arrive and more excellent Langford records. Here are some highlights from the last week –
2 grasshopper warblers reeling on the western boundary of the site – so good to hear these after an almost total absence last year.
2-3 cuckoo calling – listen out for them on the public footpath by the silt lagoons, in the Phase 1 scrub and on the western boundary footpath.
2 hobby on Phase 1 – new in yesterday (Monday 28th), one was showing very well today from the Beach Hut.
Male garganey on Phase 1 yesterday – a secretive species and one that most of us missed here last year, so great to have one back on site.
A little tern over the silt lagoons at the weekend – first reserve record in a few years.
2 avocet on Phase 1, also at the weekend.
2 raven overhead – one on Thursday and another on Friday last week, the first records in over a year.
And insects are slowly emerging too, with the first large red damselflies out yesterday and many individuals on the wing around the visitor trails this afternoon. The first Gastrophysa viridula (green dock beetle) are out now – look for the huge gravid (full of eggs) females munching their way through dock leaves. The abdomen, when full of eggs swells to a huge size, pushing the metallic green elytra (wing cases) upwards to expose the shiny black membrane underneath. Soldier beetles are on the wing, with an individual Cantharis rustica in the polytunnel. Bibio marci - the large St. Mark's fly is out, first emerging on the 21st (four days early!)
And a few things to look out for in the next week or so –
Turtle dove – sadly we only recorded one of these birds on site last year, off Westfield Lane at the northern end of the site. Fingers crossed that this year will be better.
Tree sparrow- please keep looking out for tree sparrows on site and do let us know if you see or hear any!
The first dragonflies – four-spot chasers are usually the first on the wing and common blue, azure and blue-tailed damselflies will soon be emerging.