Chris Johnston’s latest report.
Time: 07:30-09:20
Weather: overcast, fresh south-westerly breeze, 14.5°C
More challenging conditions today than we’ve had for a while, the fresh breeze giving the morning something of an autumnal feel. The recent wind has also brought down a large chunk of one of the trees in Pony Wood, thankfully without damaging anything else it would seem. The highlight this morning was a female Roe Deer in Hay Meadow, only the upper part of the head and ears visible above the long grasses. Things were generally a little quieter on the bird front. There are seemingly lots of Blackbird fledglings around the reserve, several of them visible this morning along the different paths. 32 bird species were seen in total.
- A male Mallard was on one of the small pools in Flora Field near the road. At Least 1 Stock Dove was seen overhead, as was a Jay, flying east across the field. 4 Long-tailed Tits were seen along the hedgerow between Pony Wood and the road, where a different male Whitethroat was also singing, the third on the reserve this spring.
- The Chiffchaff was singing in Pony Wood and a Grey Squirrel was also present here.
- The male Whitethroat is still singing in the Long Pads hedgerow. A Mallard was seen landing near Alder Pond.
- Both Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler were heard in Upper Sower Holme, although the noise of the wind made it difficult to pick the songs out at times. 1 Grey Heron was on School Pond and the male Whitethroat was still singing along the edges of Hay Meadow, where the aforementioned Roe Deer made its way quietly along close to the border with Upper Sower Holme.
- Along the canal, the male Goosander was on Ripley Field with 11 Mallards and 1 Moorhen. A Grey Heron was fishing in the canal close to the reserve entrance.