Middleton just feels alive with wildlife at the moment! Whether it be dragonflies, butterflies or the buzzing of the crickets you don’t have to venture that far to find something cool.
The little egret chicks have successfully fledged! All 3 of them spent a day testing their wings and following the adults around on their maiden voyage before venturing onto the wider wetlands. Last week, when I was out on jubilee doing some work there was one fishing in the shallows completely un fazed by my bright orange ATV! The great-white egret has put in an appearance as was last seen on Jubilee on the 21st. Marion got a photo showing the size difference between little and great! It was seen in Tamworth on the 24th so it could be local and you never know, pop into Middleton again. Also on the 24th, a bittern was seen flying from the north east corner of jubilee into Fishers Mill. This was in the evening, so probably flying into roost after finding a decent fishing spot to spend it’s day.
Great and small by M.Parnell
There are a few more waders moving through - a sanderling was showing very well on the 23rd until a sparrowhawk flushed it into the taller vegetation, but then it did fly back out and continued to feed on the eastern scrape of Jubilee. Other waders this week have included a roosting whimbrel on the 24th, double figures of both black-tailed godwits and dunlin, ringed, little-ringed plovers and green and common sandpipers all on Jubilee. Also redshank and snipe have been lurking around the scrape edges.
We did our monthly Webs count on the 25th and it feels like the seasons are changing with wildfowl creeping up in numbers and going through post breeding moult. The highest counts included:- 230 coot, 98 tufted duck, 96 mallard, 87 mute swans, 77 Canada geese, and a high count of grebes for us with 16 great-crested grebes recorded. A flock of 13 goosanders on the river on the 28th was interesting – not a breeding species at Middleton (yet) but they do breed in the valley. 2 juvenile/female garganeys have been seen this week. The last time I saw one was on the 26th on the eastern scrape on jubilee – always nice to pick out!
Although the breeding season has finished for most, there are still barn owl boxes to check. After no chicks in any Middleton boxes last year we are really happy that one pair is feeding 6 chicks this year. 6 is a great brood size for barn owl, not unusual a size, but indicates that there must be a good vole population this year. Along with Stefan (who is a licensed ringer) we ringed all 6 and they all look in good condition, even the smaller ones had fat full bellies.
Ringing the barn owl chicks by K.Thorpe
It feels like there are more red admirals around at them moment – not loads but I see them numerous times a day when I’m working on site. Especially near the River Tame footbridge. This part of the reserve has also been good for commas, brimstones, small +Essex skipper, meadow browns and gatekeepers in sunny recent days. It’s lovely to walk round the reserve and have them zip past! I had a butterfly ‘first’ this week – a small heath. Not a reserve first, but a first on the reserve for me! Whilst pulling ragwort in the southern meadow it was nectaring on a wild carrot before being chased off by a gatekeeper. Very uncommon on site so a welcome record of which i think there have been 2 other sightings this year.
My woeful attempt at a red admiral! I was just too quick! by K.Thorpe
Brimstone on red campion by L.Williams
Whilst going about infrastructure checks I noticed a small hole had started to appear in one the bench ends. Closer inspection showed it had been ‘dug out’ and there were saw dust shavings below. Hmmmm, strange. Then whilst thinking what beasty it could be a leaf cutter bee (complete with rolled up leaf) flew into the hole! Brilliant! There is a reason for leaving rotten benches around the site (it’s not lazy management!!)
Photos showing the leaf cutter bee's hole and willow leaves with neat 'c' shapes cut out by the bee! by K.Thorpe
Whilst scanning across the jubilee from now on you’ll notice 6 new 4-legged lawn mowers have appeared. The koniks will be spending the next few months munching their way around the wetlands and creating some ace habitat along the way. After quite a bit of work from the team and training the ponies that the livestock trailer is not to be feared we were ready for their maiden voyage out onto the wetlands. Once all 6 were out there together they spent a good 10 minutes running and bucking and generally looking very excited to have all this grass and space! They provide a really important ecological function but to be honest they look blooming awesomely fantastic out on the wetlands!
Daisy and Bob getting ready to charge out onto the wetlands! by K.Thorpe
The konik herd - from L-R - Daisy, Lilly, Winston, Holly, Bob and Poppy.