Nature is full of surprises, and the last couple of days have really highlighted this to me as I've spotted a few species in unexpected places. Even more surprisingly, given how difficult they can be to spot, snakes have featured heavily in these sightings.
Grass snakes had eluded me so far this year (apart from one in a tank that a volunteer had found in advance of a family walk last month), so it was a pleasant surprise to spot a grass snake's tail as it slithered down the bank next to me while I walked along the North Levels trail yesterday. Barely 20 minutes later I was treated to an adder sliding rapidly across the path between South Hide and Wildlife Lookout. I don't usually expect to see adders in the wetland areas of the reserve, and was too slow to get a decent picture, but two snakes i a day was a real bonus.
Yesterday's adder disappearing into the grass
The snake surprises continued today as Matt and I were showing around a potential even partner and a grass snake poked it's head out from the log bank alongside the Discovery Centre entrance. It took a quick look around, and spotting us quickly retreated into the hole before either Matt or I could get our cameras ready!
Grass snake by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Snakes weren't yesterday's only, or even biggest, surprises though. The honour of biggest surprise goes to the stone-curlew that was wandering around one of the islands on West Scrape shortly after our wardens had finished their habitat management work party. Despite being wades, stone-curlews are not often seen around water, and seconds after I spotted it this bird took off and flew back towards the field north of the visitor centre. One of our volunteers, who was at the North Wall watchpoint, confirmed that it did indeed land back in this field, barely ten minutes after it had flown south. I'm not sure whether this was the fledged chick or one of the adults, but it just goes to show how unpredictable nature really is.
My walk along the North Levels had been productive, with large flocks of goldfinches and linnets feeding on the marsh mallow and burdock seed heads, bearded tits flitting among the reeds close to the path, a whinchat in the Konik Field, several hunting kestrels and a good selection of butterflies nectaring on fleabane and tansy flowers. The pools at the far end are rapidly drying out, but are still attracting lapwings, teals, little egrets, snipe and a selection of other waders - I saw ruff, green and common sandpiper, greenshank and black-tailed godwit. One lucky visitor has spotted an otter along the trial today, while there have been several sightings of Chinese water deer and clouded yellow butterfly along this path too.
The view along the North Levels
The North Levels trail is only a temporary trail, and may not remain open for much longer this year. The pools are rapidly drying out, and our contractors will be moving out there in a few weeks to create new ditches within the reedbed. They are currently creating new pools and ditches on South Girder (the area of reedbed between South Hide and Wildlife Lookout that has recently been grazed by the highland cattle - and adjacent to the now infamous albatross and swamphen pool. The latter, it seems, has relocated to North Lincolnshire.
The Scrape is also proving very attractive to waders, although just a lone avocet remains now. The commonest waders are black-tailed godwits, lapwings and snipe, but other species present this week include ringed, little ringed and golden plovers, sanderling, little stint, dunlin, ruff, curlew, redshank, spotted redshank, greenshank, green and common sandpipers and turnstones. Duck numbers are increasing, with several hundred teals now present as well as double-figure counts of wigeon, gadwall and shoveler, and a single garganey. Other counts on the Scrape have included 180 greylag and 80 Canada geese, 15 little egrets, six grey herons and 20+ pied wagtails.
As well as the stone-curlews, the North Wall and North Bushes area has been very productive for migrants this week. There are good numbers of common and lesser whitethroats present as well as chiffchaffs, blackcaps and willow warblers, while highlights have included redstart, wheatear and spotted flycatcher. There are no more opportunities to look for migrants, as well the commoner tits and finches, as yesterday we opened another seasonal trail through the North Bushes. This is likely to remain open for most of the winter and is great for a lunchtime potter.
Spotted flycatcher by Jon Evans
Up to six hobbies are hunting over the reedbed and there are regular sightings of bittern, kingfisher, marsh harrier, bearded tit and otter from the reedbed hides. Up to three water voles can be seen in the pond, and willow emerald damselflies are quite easy to find between Wildlife Lookout and Southbelt Crossroads.
Will you spot anything unexpected on your next visit? Let us know if you do.