That spring feeling.

Back on the lakes a few weeks earlier than normal are oystercatchers and great crested grebes.  The grey herons are looking very smart too as they get ready to start raising a new family.  Around the trails many of our resident birds are singing well – with dunnocks, song thrushes, robins, great tits, blue tits and cettis warbler in good voice.  Looking to the sky marsh harriers and buzzards can be vocal on good days and can sometimes be seen displaying high above the lakes.  Then on warmer sunny days like last Saturday, some insects are starting to be seen with the odd bumblebee and butterfly like small tortoiseshell and red admiral (both seen in February on the reserve!)

That hint of winter

There are still plenty of ducks around the reserve with hundreds of teal on the slough with quite a few shoveler.  Sailing lake best for shelduck, tufted duck, pochard and gadwall.  Look out too for a ruddy shelduck that makes an appearance occasionally on the slough or sailing lake.  Our siskins are still present in good numbers around the reserve and in amongst them a few lesser redpolls can be found.

Other birds around

Include nuthatch and treecreeper in Ash Carr.  Little grebes are found at Bess’s hide.  Reed buntings around the centre.  March tits at the centre or in ash carr.  The pied wagtails finally turned up around the centre and the odd grey wagtail can be seen around the reserve.

The waiting game

March is the time when we start to look for signs of spring around the reserve and we wait for birds to arrive back from Africa.  We have already started hearing chiffchaff singing on the reserve so it looks like they are back a little early this year.  Please let us know what signs of spring your see by popping into the centre and letting us know or fill in what you have seen in our sightings book.   Here is what happened last year as we headed through March and April so you have an idea what to look forward as we head into another spring at Lackford Lakes.