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Wildlife update – Sept 2024

Early autumn at the lakes, continues to see lots of butterflies, dragonflies, some waders, some ducks, still some summer visiting birds and others busy feeding on berries or collecting seeds.

Butterflies – still a chance to get up to 10 different species on the reserve.  Look out for comma, red admiral, peacock, brown argus, small heath, holly blue and speckled wood.  In recent days we have had some sightings of small tortoiseshell and painted lady.

Dragonflies – migrant hawker now the most numerous and often seen in front of our wildlife viewpoints like Bernard’s.  Others to look for include ruddy darter, common darter.  Common blue damselfly and willow emerald damselfly are also around.

Waders – We currently have lots of lapwing using the slough area of the reserve.  In the past week we have had greenshank, green sandpiper and common sandpiper visiting too.

Ducks – 6 great crested grebes still on the eastern lakes.  Look out also for gadwall, shoveler, teal, tufted duck and coots.

Summer visiting birds – hobby still around and using the slough area of the reserve.  Chiffchaff and blackcap are feeding in the trees and shrubs on the reserve.  Swallow and house martin can be seen at times too.

Feeding on berries / collecting seeds – we have started to see much of our wildlife feeding on the berries / fruits on the reserve like blackbirds etc.  Jays have also started their flights as they collect seeds from around the reserve – look out for their direct flights. 

Water rails – it is a good time of year to listen out for water rail on the reserve and where the water levels are low you might even get to see one.  Bernard’s hide is one of the best locations to look for one – today it even perched out in the open to catch the sun and have a good preen.

Please let us know what you have seen during a visit to Lackford Lakes, by filling in our sightings book in the centre.