Meadow trail is currently closed due to hay making.
We’ve been getting some excellent close sightings of a kingfisher family at reception, who have taken to fishing right in front of the hide. Male and female kingfishers are fairly easy to tell apart; females have a red base to the bill, while the male’s is pure black. Good things to look out for when you’re trying to spot them is their distinctive flight low over the water, or listen for their high pitched call.
Cuckoos continue to be sighted regularly, and there have also been some good sightings of reed warblers coming briefly out into the open.
This year’s marsh harrier young have fledged, and can be told apart by their ginger caps. Keep an eye out and you might be lucky enough to see a food pass; this morning from reception four youngsters answered their parent’s call, all vying for the same prey item.
Otter sightings continue to come in from reception hide and the river; your best bet to see one is to get here early, but they’ve also been spotted swimming across the broad mid-morning.
Butterfly and dragonfly numbers are continuing to build and will soon reach their peak. The last of the first generation of swallowtails are still on the wing- it’s unusual for them to be out this late in the year, but the freezing spring and the current glorious weather has given them a good excuse to keep going. Look for them in the nectar garden by reception hide. Meadow browns, ringlets and gatekeepers are also out in good numbers, and we’re also starting to get sightings of white admirals.
Brown and southern hawkers have also started to emerge. The former can be distinguished from the similar Norfolk hawker (still on the wing) by its brown wings and lack of green eyes. Common darters have also emerged- these bright yellow (for females) and red (for males) dragonflies have one of the longest flight seasons of the UK species, and usually stay with us right up until October.