As well as all the larger management tasks we carry out on the reserve, there are also lots of smaller jobs we undertake. For example; volunteers have recently put bat boxes up on a tree by volunteers in Sally’s Field, 9 species of bats have been recorded on the reserve and during the warmer part of the year they can be seen hunting over the reedbed, in front of the hide or following the stretches of hedgerow that criss-cross the reserve. House martin boxes have been put up on the Wetlands Watch hide, ready for the return of these elegant birds next year. The merlin perch has been moved and rebuilt on Greenaways, although I’ve yet seen a merlin using it, it has been used by short-eared owls and hobbies, hopefully with it now slightly further away from the bridleway and in a slightly more prominent position it will allow merlins to get a better view of their prey, (there is a good chance the ever inquisitive cows may already have knocked the perch over though...) Repairs have also been carried out on the Noke track using the tractor.
Whilst out weed wiping on Tuesday, there were lots of impressive flocks of birds flying around. A large number of any species of bird can look spectacular and the groups of mallards, starlings, teals, lapwings, meadow pipits and best of all snipe were all worth watching. I’d never seen a flock (wisp) of snipe flying around together before and with 50 in the group it was a good first sighting. Throughout the whole Big Otmoor field there must have been at least 100 snipe. Talking of things I’d never seen before, I saw my first goldcrest on the reserve on Friday (5th) and also my first ever rabbit on the reserve.
Other recent sightings have included 15 goldcrests (potentially a reserve record), siskins, stonechats and the first redwings of the season.... and finally a couple of wildlife photos, some hairy caterpillars and a wide-eyed hare.