I saw my first sea trout of the spring on Radipole this morning - nicely marked and I'd estimate about 2lbs in the old scale. This brought to mind a strange event I witnessed from one of our bridges 12 months or so ago, when my gaze was drawn to a shape wafting gently in the current. Upon affixing my polarized sunglasses I was surprised to note that the gently wafting shape was the last six or eight inches of a fairly…

How often, as you walk across it, have you cast a glance over the side of a bridge just on the off chance of there being something there, but have you ever really stood and watched.  Well, yesterday, walking across the bridge at the base of the boardwalk, heading toward north hide, we stopped to admire the crystal clear water when we noticed some movement.

There below us, only four or five feet away, just visible, wriggling…

No folks, not a shark! I am of course on about a Great White Egret.

May is always a good month to see unusual species in Dorset but so far this month we've not had any real rarities, so were pleased to see photos which a visitor took of the Egret feeding in front of the north hide late afternoon yesturday (15th May). Radipole is a good place for these to turn up, they are rapidly become annual visitors now. I would imagine…

One of the most enjoyable aspects of surveying on a reserve is that you never know what you are going to see.  This morning I went to Lodmoor to conduct a plant survey of the north of the reserve and to count the Early Purple Orchids.  I unexpectedly came across this female grass snake basking on the path. Grass snakes are easily recognised by the collar of two yellow markings with black crescents at the back of the head…

I really couldn't resist the chance to see another Garganey this evening. A drake was spotted late morning up at the North Hide at Radipole Lake and this performed much better than the previous pair a few weeks ago. Sadly it waited until almost dark to come close enough for a half decent photo but still beautiful views!

It was also good to hear a Lesser Whitethroat still singing near the wooden bridge on the…

Last spring and summer we made a few steps to encourage better glass eel/elver recruitment into Lodmoor as the culverts, sluices and various water control mechanisms made the progress of the large congregations of eels that gathered at the seaward end of the reserve extremely difficult - a fact born out by electric fishing which revealed relatively low eel densities. Eels are reputed to have undergone a 99% population…

Visitors to the Weymouth Wetlands do not be alarmed but we are about to witness our annual bovine invasion - slightly later than usual due to springs late arrival denying them sufficient fodder until now.

20 cows and our impressive (and thankfully docile) bull - imaginatively referred to as 'Bully' - arrive on Radipole today, with a further 25 younger animals to follow on Lodmoor. Cattle help us to maintain a mixed and…

Last month I put a series of 'reptile refugia' out at both Radipole and Lodmoor.  These are basically sheets of corrugated roofing material measuring 2' by 3'.  The idea is that our resident reptiles will do their sunbathing either under or on them as they warm themselves up before they can start their daily activities. 

We have very few records of the reptiles that live on our sites in Weymouth, so by…

Every spring at the Weymouth Wetlands we keep a list of all the dates that migrants arrive back. It started this year with Sand Martin quickly followed by Swallow and a very early Common Tern. Up until last Friday we had all the usually species on the list except one, Garganey. These beautiful ducks are the only British duck that migrates here for the summer and spends the winter in Africa. Our other ducks come to Weymouth…

Well, we are there - today the sand martin wall is, basically, finished!  This picture, taken at around lunch time today, shows how far we have come and, with only a few bits and pieces to complete (the bank to the left will be completed and the roof area will look a little greener) we are pretty much there, not only a sand martin wall but a multi-functional bat roost and amphibian/reptile hibernation and refuge site.…

One thing I love about nature is the unexpected and, walking out onto the reserve yesterday I was thrilled to see nodding pink candelabras of one of my favourite flowers, Lady's Smock (also known as Cuckoo Flower) along the path sides and in the meadow – all we need now are the orange tip butterflies that feed on them!

Equally exciting is our sand martin wall, which is now just days away form being finished…

One of the highlights of a job like mine are the random encounters with wildlife whilst doing often rather mundane tasks.

 This includes flushing a bittern from a few feet away whilst checking for wobbly fence posts and seeing the first 3 swallows of the year at Lodmoor whilst litter picking.

 Today's highlight has been a red kite flying over the Swannery car park as Dan and I were loading cardboard destined for recycling…

No, plants can't sing but warblers can and that was exactly what they were doing this morning. Sedge Warblers have been around for a few days now but Reed Warblers are now starting to make an appearance. Due to their songs being similar it’s always tricky trying to differentiate between the two when you haven’t heard one for over 6 months! But it was very nice to remind myself this morning whilst walking to the visitor…

The sun is shining, birds are singing, could spring finally be here to stay?!

I've just ventured up into Chafey's Lake to check on the state of the paths (still boggy) and seen my first Brimstone butterfly of the year!  Only yesterday I was lamenting not having seen one yet.  Brimstones are usually one of the first butterflies to appear in spring and in previous years I have seen them at Radipole in late February…

Well several actually!  In the lovely sunshine today the sand martin wall is really beginning to take shape as the front rows of nesting holes were installed and, for the first time, you can get a real feel for how it will look.  There is still a little way to go, but perhaps the sand martins that were flying overhead as the guys were laying the blocks gave us a taste of the not too distant future when they make their homes…

Go to a RSPB reserve of course!

I spend pretty much my whole working week at Radipole Lake, so decided today, on my day off, to go over to nearby Lodmoor. I know its a bit sad going birding on my day off when all I really do all week in work is bird watch (don't tell the boss!). I am the first to admit that I am a bit of a nerdy birder who keeps a year list, life list etc so a day off give me chance to get a few …