The recent hot weather has meant that a lot of our ditches and small ponds are either very low in water or no water at all. Pond dipping is definitely off the menu at present! However there is still lots of wildlife around. Recent sightings in the last week of both slow worms and grass snakes have been entertaining visitors along th eblue trail, whilst there are lizards out on the boardwalks.
Domenlas hide is now reopen after a seccussful second broodd of oysterctacher chicks fledged from the nest on the wall in front of the hide. From here there have been some great views of otters in the river swimming and catching fish, as shoals move up the river.
On the other side of the reserve, of note we have had marsh harrier from Ynys Feurig hide, adult and adolescent peregrine over Einion fields and 3 green sandpipers in the pools and muddy edges in front of the visitor centre.
If it is shade that you are looking for, then at present head to Ynys-hir hide where you can sit and enjoy purple hairsteak butterflies in amongst the tops of the oak trees.