A beautiful day at Radipole Lake today with sunshine and blue skies. Though many of us are still walking around with our T-shirts and sandals there is a distinctly autumnal feel to the reserve. The days are getting shorter and cooler in the evenings. The autumnal chill in the air is becoming more noticeable as we approach the last week of September.
On my way down to the hide, I noticed that there are less flowers around but the hedgerows are becoming abundant with the fruit bringing some welcome colour. Summer flowers still with us are the Hemp Agrimony, Hedgerow Cranesbill, Stone Parsley, Wild Parsnip and Hogweed.
Plants currently fruiting are the Hawthorn, Dogwood and Guelder Rose. We have several apple trees, a pear tree and a plum tree fruiting on Radipole. Their arrival here is likely to be from people's discarded cores or fruit stones.
While the bramble is becoming heavily laden with blackberries, welcome snacks for birds and the smaller furry animals like the wood mouse.
On the way back to the Discovery Centre, I saw a number of dragonflies and a very obliging Red Darter Dragonfly allowed me to get close enough for a photo-shoot. I also saw Red Admirals, Speckled Woods and Small Whites butterflies making the most of the autumnal sunshine.
Other autumnal plants coming into flower now are Mugwort and Clematis.
For me, a sure sign that it's now Autumn is the Ivy coming into flower. Ivy starts fruiting in late October and this plant is invaluable to birds when food starts becoming more scarce as winter approaches.
My visit to the North Hide was rewarded with a Green Sandpiper flying in with two Black Tailed Godwits and a Little Egret. Other recent Autumn bird sightings include: A Citrine Wagtail was briefly at Radipole on 1st September. Yellow Wagtails roost on Radipole in the Autumn, and a peak count (so far) of 650 was recorded on 5th September. A long staying juvenile Garganey has been seen regularly since August and may still be present at time of writing. Finally another mega, in the form of a Spotted Crake was seen on 20th September.
For the latest sightings, contact Radipole Lake Discovery Centre, details below or pop in and see us. Hot and cold refreshments, snacks and ice creams available.
Telephone: 01305 778313
E-mail: Weymouth.reserves@rspb.org.uk
Website: www.rspb.org.uk/radipolelake