Hello All
Only the weekend left and then its December! Then before you know it another year will be over.
I popped the moth trap on over night and was rewarded with the aptly named December moth.
Once we finished working on the Draper area we started to gradually increase the water level in order to mimic natural winter flooding. This has proved popular with teal as they are feeding on the seeds as they start to float in the rising water, meadow pipits have also been rooting around on the islands and the reedbed at the back is just waiting for a wintering bittern.
As a warning, we are currently having problems with a section of the path flooding, due to a blocked ditch. The ditch is due to be cleared out in early January so please be aware there is likely to be wet areas on the path as you approach the tern and gadwall hides until that time.
The next area to have its "winter hair cut" by the Tuesday and Thursday management work parties will be the vegetation in front of the kingfisher hide and the adjacent reedbed. With the wet weather and high water levels it could be a bit of a muddy job!
Recent sightings have included kingfishers (yes multiple), good numbers of lapwing often doing some fancy aerobatics as the sparrowhawk pays a visit, green sandpiper, common gull, wigeon, shoveler, teal, the male pintail is still about, multiple water rail showing well at both Ashby and Gadwall hides, a pair of grey wagtails often pop in to the car park area or the Gadwall hide, meadow pipit, cettis warbler, male blackcap, bullfinch, gold crest, field fare, redwing and yellowhammer coming to roost.
Thanks
Vicky