Witches Oak Water by Rod Key

Witches Oak Water by Rod Key

Water levels on the reserve continue to drop.

It was a slightly cooler morning with some high cloud and a WNW wind, force 2/3 blowing. Both visibility and light were good. Water levels on the reserve continue to drop especially on Pit 9 where the bird of the day, a Green Sandpiper was flushed from. There were good numbers of both Little Egrets-11- and Grey Heron-10 around the reserve and12 Common Terns were also much in evidence. Totals on the Reserve were 8 Great Crested Grebes, 27 Cormorants, 11 Little Egrets, 10 Grey Herons,11 Mute Swans, 14 Canada Geese, 5 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 26 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 12 Common Terns, 1 Cettis Warbler, 5 Reed Warblers and 1 Garden Warbler. Another 3 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons and 2 Common Terns were seen off the reserve as was a Raven. As the morning warmed up at least 26 Ringlets, 8 Meadow Browns and 3 Speckled Woods were noted along with just 1 distant White Butterfly. A few Common Blue and Blue Tailed Damselflies were found along with at least 3 Banded Demoiselles. The only large Dragonfly noted was a Brown Hawker.