The summer holidays are almost over. And while the weather hasn't always been favourable, it has been nice to see so many families enjoying our activities, especially using our pond dipping kits and hearing about what they've caught later on. This included plenty of great silver diving beetles, which are truly monstrous, the largest and most ferocious beetles on the reserve. This is just a taster of what this month had to offer as we look back at the highlights that August have produced.
After July's long-eared owls went into hiding, a new crowd pleaser has brought back the crowds. Though it was mostly very distant views from reception, a honey buzzard was keeping everyone on high alert. In fact, it may have been three different individuals. They look similar to a normal buzzard, but paler and with plenty of streaking on the underside and extra markings on the tail (one was a lot paler than the other two). The head is also very distinctive.
Honey Buzzard (Jake Gearty)
At least one bird has been seen almost daily from reception, but you will need a scope in order to see it. Occasionally, one will fly high above the reception to make things easier. If you do see a honey buzzard, we are keeping notes on sightings, so please, let us know and we shall write it down on a sheet next to the sightings board. If you are very lucky, you may spot the probable female Montagu's harrier that had been reported a couple of times this month (Aug 9th and 21st).
The autumn migration has appeared to have begun as we've had a few interesting sightings across our Mid Yare reserves. This includes a pied flycatcher (Aug 20th), a glossy ibis (Aug 10th), a firecrest (Aug 14th), a possible ferruginous duck (Aug 16th), a nightjar in the car park late at night on the 25th and, over at Buckenham, the wood sandpiper is still showing on the marshes along with three curlew sandpipers that had been seen there since Saturday (26th).
Our cranes may have failed raising their chick this year, but the pair are still hanging around. On Monday (Aug 28th), I happened to hear them bugling before flying off to Buckenham, where they've spent most of their time. A promising sign that they could be here to stay.
If you are seeking something exotic, then keep an eye out for a Chiloe wigeon. This is a fairly colourful duck originally from South America. It is most definitely an escapee and had first been seen since Aug 20th outside reception and on the Accidental Broad (along the way to Tower Hide) a day later. However, it hasn't been seen since then.
Chiloe wigeon (Amber Newton)
Swallowtail sightings have dwindled to the odd individual, occasionally sighted on the buddleia by Tower Hide. Their caterpillars were found on the milk parsley from the boardwalk by the Lackford Run, looking big, green and ready to pupate, preparing to emerge next year. There's been plenty of other butterfly sightings though, including a white-letter hairstreak on Aug 28th that flew past the reception area.
It was a good month if you are a dragonfly enthusiast. There's been a lot to see. Lesser emperors have been seen patrolling the front of the broad outside the reception. Its bright blue 'waist' helps to ID them as they zip by. Meanwhile, the pond behind the feeder area boasted a great selection of at least 9 species. This includes small red-eyed and willow emerald damselflies. The latter can be found across the reserve in great numbers.
Small red-eyed damselfy (Murray Smith)
Lesser emperor dragonfly @johnathanfarooqi
Since discovering fen raft spiders at Strumpshaw from the meadow trail in June for the first time since releasing them at a secret location as part of a re-introduction project in 2012, there had been no further sightings. But towards the end of July and early August, they have been re-discovered again, this time at the sluices along the fen trail. What's more promising is that a female was seen there carrying an egg sac!
Fen raft spider (Murray Smith)
After many months of very few sightings, kingfishers have been making some sort of a resurgence. They've been returning to the perches in front of Fen Hide (showing really well) and occasionally outside reception. Otter and bittern sightings continue to excite those watching from reception also. Bearded tit numbers appear to be on the increase with these birds actively pinging away in the reed beds across Strumpshaw. Great white egrets are being seen almost daily across the reserve.
The reserve is feeling rather autumnal with fruit and seeds on full display on the trees and dew covering the ground most mornings. With all the interesting bird species we've had arriving this year, I am hoping September will provide something of a migration bonanza with rare birds to satisfy that Twitcher's itch. Expect anything from ospreys to pectoral sandpipers. I can't wait to see what turns up in next month's report! See you then!