The last few days of Autumn

The weather this year, has been strange and this has continued throughout Autumn. With the mild weather after the drought in the summer, many plants decided to have a go at growing again and some like hawthorn were flowering through October. Butterflies and dragonflies continue to be seen into November. At the same time, there has been a slow change with birds leaving us after spending the summer here and others arriving to spend the winter here. Many of our trees still have leaves so over the next few weeks the reserve should still feel a lot like autumn, even though winter is almost here!

During the last few weeks, the reserve team have cut the slough, so we are now ready for those ducks to arrive. Wigeon have already dropped in and are currently grazing some the grass there. The plan is to slowly raise the water level over the coming weeks to flood the area between slough and Double Decker. Goods numbers of shoveler made an appearance this week, joining the teal, gadwall, coots and tufted ducks. Lapwing and snipe can also be found on the slough.

Tufted ducks and pochard are also gaining in numbers and can be best seen on the sailing lake or long reach from Bess’s hide.

Other birds arriving this past week have been redwing, fieldfare and a couple of flocks of siskin with a few redpoll mixed in.

One of the best things about these shorter days is the watching our wildlife as it is approaching darkness. Sunsets can be spectacular over the sailing lake and you never know what you will see arriving to spend the night at Lackford Lakes. Last night we had small groups of starlings flying overhead and a large group of crows gathering high in the sky over the reserve. For Lackford’s sunset best being here from 3pm and darkness / reserve closed time is 5pm but why not spend the whole afternoon and experience late autumn on the reserve.

I wonder what the next few months will bring.