A run of warm weather has seen the wetland areas of the reserve drying and pools shrinking, but even with the heat of high summer, there are still plenty of birds to be seen. Despite the dry conditions, North Brooks has been pretty good for waders over the last week or two. The stars of the show are the sandpipers, with common sandpipers, green sandpipers and a wood sandpiper being seen daily. They are accompanied by a few little ringed plovers and greenshank, whilst a dunlin was reported yesterday and a group of black tailed godwits arrived last week.
Other birds with long legs include grey heron and little egret, both still being seen regularly.
I have had a scan down the list in our sightings book and it would appear that sedge warblers are being reported most days, and I too heard these birds’ scratchy song filling the warm air, whilst using the public footpath from Little Hanger Hide to the Riverbank last week.
Summer is well known as a quiet time for birding, and it is true that in the heat of the day birds often keep to cover, and many species will be skulking in the hedgerows moulting their dusty old plumage at the moment. But fear not! If the birds evade you, there is still plenty to see. Two of the reserve’s reptile species have been reported over the last week; the adder and the grass snake, most likely making the most of the hot sunny weather. Butterflies are enjoying the bramble flowers and other plants coming into bloom, and the buddleia bushes always attract these colourful insects. You may also see a moth or two around – silver-y moths and the red and black cinnabar moth both fly during the day. Look out for the cinnabar moth's caterpillars; munch yellow and black striped armies marching their way through the ragwort plants on the reserve.
Another creature who loves the sun, is the dragonfly. A short walk down the hill on our Woodland and Heathland Trail to Black Pond (ask in the visitor center if you are unsure where this is) is like taking a journey back in time. The peaty-black waters of the ponds reflect the sky and the shadows of zooming dragonflies, like prehistoric dinosaurs hunting over the pond and marshy ground surrounding it. Several species can be seen, including emperor dragonfly, brown hawkers, four-spot chasers, ruddy and common darters, along with emerald damselflies, but it is worth pausing for a moment simply to enjoy the sight of these monsters (well, they are scary if you are a fly!!) zooming back and forth with fantastic speed and agility.
The weather is set to be hot for Sussex this weekend, so why not plan a trip down to the reserve, for a wander under the shade of the trees and perhaps an exciting encounter with nature!