Spring is in the air!

Yes, spring is on its way and you only have to look around the reserve to see it. This week, after spending all of winter around the coasts, the Great Crested Grebe’s have returned to begin mating and have already been seen doing the courtship ritual out on Plover Lake, from Atlas Hide.

Great Crested Grebe tucks in to a tasty snack in the pouring rain. Photo by John Lord.

The ducks have been in the mood for love with lots of mating going on and an opportunity for the #LackfordPhotoChallenge which was captured by Rich Berry.

Mallards mating #LacfordPhotoChallenge ©Rich Berry

Just keeping her head above the water #LackfordPhotoChallenge ©Rich Berry

Another contributor Adrian Sheppard, also caught some of our Canadian Geese getting feisty around the reserve.

Angry bird ©Adrian Sheppard

As well as this perfect photobomb.

©Adrian Sheppard

Wonder what startled this Egyptian goose?

©Rich Berry

Away from birds, and a Queen Buff-talied Bumblebee was spotted flying through the car park on Sunday, a sign that spring is not far away. Something else that isn’t far away either is our next themed weekend on The Signs of Spring. Starting on the 14th March and running all through the weekend, there’ll be nature trails and questions for the family to answer as well as a spotter sheet to complete. How many signs of spring will you find around the reserve?

Plugging the gap!

As some of you may or may not know, the River Lark burst its banks last year causing some flooding on the reserve. Getting it fixed was never going to be easy as the authorities were already quite overstretched. However, with thanks to Glen Smithson of Lark Angling Preservation Society, his work and knowledge helped us plug the gap with some traditional Alder Faggots. These will help to stop the bank eroding away when the gap is infilled again.

Work begins to plug the gap.

Getting stuck in.

More piles being driven in to hold the Alder Faggots in place.

All finished.

Sightings 

First up is the mammal camera. We’ve made some tiny modifications to the mammal camera which used to have a full wooden lid. This meant the chamber was always in darkness and therefore the cameras only recorded in infra-red (black & white). Well we’ve taken away half of the wooden lid and replaced it with a plexiglass lid which lets in more light and allows the camera to record in colour. This light coming into the box has not put the mammals off in anyway and within minutes of the lid being replaced, they were straight back in there. As you can see from the video, a Common Shrew and a Bank Vole can be seen munching away at the treats inside.

If you want to see more of our videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel here

Heron’s have started to gather in large numbers around the top end of the Slough and the Kingfisher’s have been chasing each other around too on the Slough and around the visitor centre pond. Ash Carr has been a popular place to see Siskin’s, Bullfinches, Tree Creepers and Nuthatches.

Nuthatch by Stuart Finley

Other sightings this week include Marsh tit and Coal tit at the visitor centre feeders, Little Egrets flying around the reserve at several locations and Goldeneye displaying on the Sailing lake. The odd Goosander is still to be seen around the reserve, mainly at Bess’ hide. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard’s have been spotted around Steggall’s, although beware, as the path down to this hide is quite muddy, so come prepared.

Marsh tit ©Rich Berry

Iceland Gull after a short absence is back and roosting on the sailing lake of an evening as is a Glaucous Gull (juv) and 2 2nd cy (calendar year) Caspian gulls on the Slough, which also has a large gull roost now.

Tim Humpage got this picture of the Glaucous gull. Can you spot it? we will let you know the answer next week.

Spot the Glaucous gull. Answers next week.

It's getting chilly!

Well, it's now December and the chilly mornings are with us. Despite the various flooding events last week that saw much of the reserve closed, the birds were not deterred from visiting with Pintails  and Goosander being spotted on the Slough, Goldeneye on the sailing lake and our regular Kingfisher and Sparrowhawk on the visitor centre pond. Bullfinches have also been seen around the centre in the car park and by the pond. Redwings and Fieldfare still continue to be seen on the track leading to the reserve.

Pintail by Ian Goodall

The Starlings are still murmuring and numbers are growing with an estimated 17,000 at last count. The time the murmuration happens is never set and can be early or late. Best to get here around 2pm so you can have a nice walk around the reserve and then settle in the visitor centre with a nice cuppa to see the display, which last week, was quite spectacular.

The new hide

The new hide is nearing completion and is on course for its grand opening on the 18th December. The path to Steggall's is closed from the Atlas hide onwards this week whilst the old hide is removed from the site.

Looking good, new hide is almost complete.

Well it's now December and the weather has begun to turn. Despite the various flooding last week due to the River Lark bursting its banks, it hasn't deterred the birds. A few Pintails have been sighted on the Slough as well as more Fieldfares and Redwings spotted around the reserve. The Kingfisher is still showing well at the centre lake. Goosanders, Goldeneye's, Bullfinches and a Little Egret have also been spotted around our reserve and the Sparrowhawk is still a regular visitor.

Naturally Art

We had one of our Naturally Art workshops this week where children get to create things inspired by the natural world.

Rosie and a friend get to work

All getting ready to start the day

Wonder what these will grow into????

The finished creations from our Naturally Art participants

We have a Naturally Art workshop on a Saturday once a month, why not bring your child to express their imaginations! Or, if you can't wait till next month, why not bring them along to our Frozen Festive Fun Christmas Activity Afternoon on 22nd December 1-3pm for 4-10 year olds. There will be a winter trail, Frozen inspired festive craft activities and other decorations and all for only £4.

Pre-booking is essential for this event as places fill quickly, to book your place call 01284 728706

Floods and starlings.

Well what a week we've had here at the reserve. The heavy rain over we had during Sunday and Sunday night led to the River Lark flooding which in turn meant that several trails around the reserve were closed, cutting off some hides in the process.

Some paths were a bit wet.

As of today, we still have some flooding on site with limited access to the East Lakes, Atlas hide being the only one available there. But the Kingfisher trail is now fully open.

Sightings

Still Goosander, Goldeneye, Kingfisher and Goldcrest are being spotted and the Tree sparrows have been seen too. 

Goldcrest by Rich Berry (via Twitter @BritishWhiskey) 

The Starling murmuration is going from strength to strength with the estimated number of around 15,000 birds, which are giving wonderful displays right behind the Visitor Centre. This is a perfect way to end a wonderful day walking around the reserve. There is always something good to see on the reserve, including a Pintail which turned up today, or the flocks of Siskins which can be seen along the paths. Another treat to look out for are the Bullfinches which can also be spotted along the paths. The time the murmuration starts varies from day to day, but it's best to get yourself in the Visitor Centre by 3pm, where, after a nice walk around the reserve, you can enjoy a cup of tea/coffee/soup and a nice slice of lovely cake whilst waiting for the wonderful display to begin. Who knows, you might even get to see the Kingfisher whilst you wait, it has been showing a lot later at the centre lake.

We have tried to get some video of the murmuration, but it doesn't do it any justice, so it's best if you  get yourself down here and experience it for yourself. After all, that really is the best way to see it, especially when they begin to dive down into the roost, which is best viewed from the centre itself.  

A very small part of the murmuration over the reserve.