September is very much a month of
departures and arrivals as we note the very last dates of our summer migrants
and the earliest dates of the arriving winter wildfowl. Sunshine and warmer
weather extends the flight season for dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies.
Ruddy darter dragonflies are still being seen now at the very end of the month
particularly around reception pond and the approach ramp up to reception hide,
as well as migrant and southern hawker dragonflies. Small tortoiseshell and
speckled wood are also still in good numbers feeding on some long lasting
brambles and the remnants of the buddleia flowers along the nature trail. Small
white butterflies are also still in flight at the end of September.
One of our volunteers, John has
been recording a number of different types of invertebrate, taking his time to
study the vegetation along the paths and often the wooden rails which warm up
in the sun. The photographs that John takes give you an idea of the variety
seen, especially the many different types of ladybird. Often visitors will miss
seeing the small wildlife on the reserve but once you can slow down and take
time to look carefully you will be amazed at the amount and variety of our mini
fauna. In our education sessions one of the skills taught is to look for things
in the natural environment by perhaps finding different colours or textures,
focusing on details, giving a wider picture of the natural environment, and
feeding relationships within it.
Summer warblers had moved on by
the beginning of September with only a garden warbler and a common whitethroat
noted on the 3rd September. Hirundines were feeding over D reservoir
on several occasions throughout September, two swallows over harassing a marsh harrier on
24th and a late party of about 50 house martins on the 28th. A
female garganey was spotted on south marsh up until the 11th and
perhaps the last sighting of yellow wagtail for the summer was on the 12th. Hobbys have been reported across the reserve
all summer so presumed they have bred nearby. With the warmer September days
there have been a number of sightings right up to the 24th, feeding
on dragonflies over D reservoir and south marsh.
Passage waders visiting south
marsh continued from August with dunlin on 1st to 6th September
and again on 11th -13th, with 4 birds on 23rd.
Common and green sandpiper have been recorded throughout the entire month on
south marsh, a common sandpiper often seen feeding on D reservoir wall. Snipe have
been recorded throughout the month with a top count of 5 on several occasions,
all on south marsh. Curlew arrived on 6th and again have been
recorded throughout the month. There was a ruff on 3rd and 7th
, a curlew sandpiper on 4th and a little stint on 6th and
11th . An injured black tailed godwit has been around for a while
but was joined by a flock of 20 birds on 21st. Juvenile little
ringed plover was on south marsh on 6th and there were several
sightings of ringed plovers on 10th till 13th. On 17th
September a juvenile pectoral sandpiper arrived, probably one from the east
Siberian population, blown off course, and is still on south marsh on 28th
September. Lapwing have been recorded on south marsh and on Watton nature
reserve and a flock of 50 golden plovers flew over O reservoir on 26th.
A great white egret was sighted
on north lagoon on 21st September, then flying over the riverbank
later that day. North lagoon also attracted a visiting bittern on 14th.
On D reservoir the gull roost is building up with a Caspian gull in amongst the
flock on 5th. Pochard, tufted
duck and coot have increased in numbers from the beginning of September, with
maximum numbers of 40, 150 and 250 respectively. Great crested grebes have been
giving great views of their fishing prowess, coming up to the surface with
rather large young pike. A black necked grebe was seen on D reservoir on 5th
and then again from 16th to the end of the month, often very distant
at the far end of the reservoir. A red necked grebe on 23rd and then
again on 26th is thought to possibly be the same bird that has been
seen on Hornsea mere. A male scaup was recorded on 24th and again on
26th September on D reservoir. Two female goldeneye and two pintail
have also been noted from mid September, the weather and viewing conditions
possibly determining the sightings.
A pair of yellow wagtails on 12th
were the only ones noted during the month but two grey wagtails were feeding on
O reservoir wall on 7th and at Hempholme on 24th. The
tawny owl is often spotted during the day in reception woods, jays across the
sight now, whereas they used to be only spotted in the northern areas of the
reserve. A covey of eight grey partridge seen on the approach road was a nice
addition to the site’s records for September.
Woodland birds are making good
use of the feeders outside reception hide with small flocks of goldfinches and
greenfinches regular visitors. Great spotted woodpeckers can also be seen on a
daily basis alongside blue, coal, great and long tailed tits. Treecreepers have
been seen along the nature trail through reception woods.
At north lagoon, as well as water
rails coming out onto the flatten reed beds in front of the hide, grass snakes
have been using the area as a hunting ground for marsh frogs in the last couple
of weeks, giving visitors very good views from the hide. Several common
pipistrelle bats have been roosting under the louvres on the front of reception
hide in the past few days.
Today a flock of 8 pink footed
geese landed on Watton nature reserve, a true sign that autumn has well and
truly arrived.
