Drakelow Sightings

DRAKELOW NATURE RESERVE: Monday 16th April 0915-1230. With the upturn in temperature this was a visit to assess the flood situation and to see if any butterflies were on the wing. BUTTERFLIES: Both sections were visited with four Peacocks in the reserve area and three Peacocks and a Comma in the SK21 sector. BIRDS: There was little to shout about but the Egyptian Geese were in the ML seeing all and sundry off whilst a pairs of Shelducks were in the North Pool carrying out similar assaults on nearby trespassers. A quick survey of the ducks gave 56 Tufties, six Gadwalls, four each of Shoveler and Teal and two Wigeon with a scattering of Mallards over most waters. Two Oystercatchers and three Snipe were on what is left of the Strip that is above water. A Buzzard was circling the RWPH area calling plaintively. A Lesser Whitethroat, new in yesterday, was still singing its heart out by the Tertiary Lagoon and there was a good spread of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers over the site. The only hirundines were ten Sand Martins that carried on through the area. On the 13th a Cuckoo flew through the reserve and on the 14th a Cormorant roost count gave 216 birds. INSECTS: During the walk the Buff-tailed Bumble-bee was relatively common and several Carder Bees were noted. A Wasp (sp), in the Education Hide, eluded capture. Whirligig Beetles were dashing about on the fish pond and many of the roadside flood pools supported a species of Pond Skater. FLOOD POOL: There is no change in the flooded area. Two paths on the reserve are still under water and the cones remain in place to signify no entry. The path to Scott’s Lagoon is not coned off but the flood is obvious. With thanks to AG.

DRAKELOW NATURE RESERVE: W/E 8th April. Despite a brief incursion by the River Trent on the 4th it was more or less business as usual the next day with the exception of two paths remaining under water. BIRDS: New spring arrivals noted were Willow Warbler on the 5th, Blackcap on the 6th and a Wheatear (in the station area) on the 8th on which date there were counts of 20 Chiffchaffs 16 Willow Warblers and five Blackcaps. Sand Martins were dribbling through but still only the one Swallow to date. With the extremely high water levels it was to be expected that ducks would be widely scattered with Tufted Ducks at 65 the easiest counted. Shoveler numbers continued on a downward slope with a count of 75 on the 1st down to 39 on the 8th although it has been shown that an afternoon count of this species is often higher than a morning count. Shelducks are more frequently seen these days and a party of six was seen flying upstream on the 6th being last seen strongly flying over Walton-on-Trent. Waders now have little land to feed on although two Oystercatchers retain a foothold on the remaining yard or so of the Strip. Up to five Redshanks have been reported within the station area where several pairs of Lapwings have taken up residence. A Green Sandpiper was noted in the ML area on the 8th. Cetti’s Warblers are in good voice with birds singing in the area of the North Hide and Tertiary Lagoon. MAMMALS: With large areas of muddy footpaths Muntjac slots have been recorded over a wide area as have been Badger prints. The last mentioned species was seen during daylight on the 8th and on the 15th Rabbits numbered 15. INSECTS: Buff-tailed Bumble-bees are becoming more noticeable with 15 or more on the 6th scattered over the site and on the 7th a queen Bombus hypnorum was ushered out from the North hide. The new butterfly transect season got off to an inauspicious start with the SK22 section, in the main, under water but the SK21 transect was more easily covered with a Brimstone and a Comma noted on the 6th. Earlier in the week a Small Tortoiseshell was reported on the 4th. FLOOD POOLS: On the 7th the pools were measured at 17cm and 27cm respectively at their deepest parts. There is no sign of this subsiding in the short term. With thanks to AG, RW, KW, MDS Jo and Jon.

DRAKELOW NATURE RESERVE -Thursday 5th April. The river flood has subsided somewhat but two paths, SCOTT'S LAGOON and from the NORTH HIDE westwards, remain under water Cones are in place by the GFH. The flood pool on the way in has increased in depth. It is twice the reccommended depth of water that my own car can enter. Unless you are sure of your vehicle I would advise parking on the road and walking in, either over the field or through the area of flood water.

DRAKELOW NATURE RESERVE: W/E Sunday 1st April. Since the last blog, 22nd March, rain has continued to such an extent that on 1st April the River Trent was beginning to overflow the banks. Although the daytime temperature rose somewhat a cold spell began to move in at the end of March. INSECTS: The first butterfly of the season was a Comma on the 26th March. Buff-tailed Bumble-bees have been seen most visits but only one or two up to now. MAMMALS: Rabbits are the only mammals seen and they are few and far between. A walk into the reserve, across a field to the reserve via the RWPH, showed that animals are certainly present with numerous scrapes being noted with the associated droppings nearby. Clearly, the animals are present but even dusk and dawn visits have revealed no more than ten individuals. There was ample evidence of Mole activity on the same walk. BOTANY: There is now ample evidence od spring with the Hawthorn hedges showing a green flush here and there along the hedgerows. .A patch of Coltsfoot, on the bank opposite the Educational Hide, is conspicuous and the odd Dandelion is in flowed on the drive. A Hyacinth, planted many years ago, is in full bloom near the gate. Bluebell leaves are now obvious although many are showing signs of leaf damage, presumably caused by Rabbits during the recent icy spell. Another noticeable leafy plant, Lords and Ladies, remains unscathed as does Hemlock. BIRDS: Amongst the breeders the Cormorant colony is in full swing with 68 AON’s on the 1st April. At the same time Herons mustered a good count of 28 nests and the rookery, on the drive, had gone up to 30 structures. During the roost count of the Cormorants, on the 24th March, a high total of 236 were counted. Towards the end of March three Little Egrets were roosting in the area of the North Pool. At least five Great Crested Grebes were in the ML waters on the 1st April with one pair displaying and a single, in the Terrapin Pool, was still in winter plumage. At least three waters are occupied by Little Grebes. Amongst the duck there have been several good counts of Shoveler with numbers building up as the day wears on. Ringed Plover and Redshank have been added to the year list although these birds are in the station area. G.B.B.Gulls have been visiting the ML and chasing after arriving Cormorants and Grey Herons, presumably in an attempt to force these birds into disgorging their crop contents. The only new arrival of the traditional summer migrants was a Swallow on the 29th March whilst departing migrants on the 1st of April were a dozen Fieldfares and eight Redwings. FOOTFALL: I have recorded, for the month of March, visits by myself – 12 (14 in 2017) and others – 73 (120 in 2017). There is no doubt in my mind that this is down to the road conditions on site. WARNING: The flood pool still persists and shows no sign of diminishing and will persist as the surrounding area is now waterlogged. With thanks to AG, RW, KW, AB and DH.