Well here we are - nearly the end of June already!
The wildlife on the reserve is well into it's busy season now, with a multitude of fledgling and juvenile birds learning the lessons of life, whilst many pairs are attempting to rear second broods.
We counted approximately 11 house sparrow nests around the Visitor Center building earlier this year, and the constant cheerful chirruping of these familiar characters can be heard wherever you go around the vicinity of the center, cafe and play area at the moment. We are lucky to have a good local population of house sparrows, as the dramatic decline of this species is an issue the RSPB members and others may well be familiar with us covering over recent years.
Elsewhere on the reserve, despite it being a busy time for the wildlife, the midday heat has meant many birds are keeping quietly to the shade of the hedgerows. Sightings reported to us over the last week have included, chiffchaffs, whitethroats, and nightingales, along with bullfinch and sedge warblers.
Green sandpiper, grey heron, little egret and a few ducks; widgeon, teal and shoveler have been seen on the wetland areas.
The feeders by the center have seen visits by most of the 'common garden birds'; the tits and finches, but also great spotted woodpeckers have been much in evidence both here and on the heathland trails.
Bird of prey seen recently include buzzard, red kite and hobby.
Wildlife of the non-bird kind has been making good use of the sunshine - the warmth has encouraged the emergence of our insect stars, the butterflies and dragonflies. Notable sightings include marbled white butterfly (20th June), emperor dragonfly (22nd June), and white admiral butterfly (24th June). Hornets have also been seen around the trails hiding their reasonably peaceful nature beneath their intimidating appearance. We have had many comments about 'small black and red butterflies'. These in fact are a day-flying moth, the cinnabar moth. One of my favourites, partly because it dispels the often believed myth that moths are 'brown, boring, and only come out at night'! Look out for their striking yellow and black stripy caterpillars on ragwort plants as the summer progresses.