It's been rather productive for wildlife sightings on site today, with a singing Cetti's warbler in silt lagoons 4 and 5 entertaining us throughout the day as we worked in the polytunnel, building a new reed propagation bay. Cetti's warblers are now in permanent residence here at Langford since they first appeared on site in 2009, with up to 4 singing males recorded this spring. This is in line with their northward expansion after colonisation of the UK throughout the 1960's and early 1970's. Usually we hear them singing in the spring and throughout the autumn and winter, following a 'quiet' period after the breeding season - this is my first autumn record of one singing this year.
Other birds from today include a stunning hobby, which entertained us at lunchtime hunting for dragonflies over Phase 2 and a distant curlew was calling from Phase 1 this afternoon.
Butterfly numbers seem to be dropping off now after a very poor summer. However, there seems to be good numbers of red admirals flying in the last few days, with two sightings around Phase 2 this afternoon. Another insect species that has really suffered this summer, but is now making a late comeback, is the common wasp, or Vespula vulgaris. After only a handful of sightings this spring and summer, there now seems to be plenty about - it's nice to finally see good numbers of these fascinating insects.
And finally, mammal sighting of the day has to go to a lovely stoat that seems to have taken up residence underneath our workshop. It didn't seem to mind us sitting watching it at close range as it made it's way around the bottom of the building!