What a week for observing wildlife at this smashing nature reserve – the suns been out, bright yellow willow catkins are on show and there is a real feel of spring in the air. High above a large flock of Golden Plover can be heard though its hard to hear over two hundred of these wading birds with all the Skylarks and Curlews singing and displaying nearby…how inconsiderate!
Arguably the highlight of the week has been the many newts seen in the wetlands – three, four, five then six Smooth Newt were evident in the ditch near the old hide. At least two pairs were displaying in front of my eyes – the male, sometimes more than one, attempting to lure the nearby female with tail wagging motions and elaborate body movements. What a privaledge to see…and i’m supposed to be at work! A solitary female Great Crested Newt was also evident. Soon the wetlands will be awash with egg laden plants and the next generation of newts will emerge later this summer. interestingly, just a few days before, the same wetlands were teeming with mating Toads – some of which had clearly over exerted themselves as a few dead Toads were evident along the ditch. School children from Trinity School, Carlisle, had witnessed this Toad breeding spectacle and its fair to say the experience left some of them asking more questions than I could possibly answer! Water Scorpion, Greater Diving Beetle, Frog and Backswimmers were also noted – the Water Scorpion, with its pointed tail and scorpion like claws, was particularly interesting.
After the delights of boxing Hares just a week before, a tiny leveret was found in rough ground close to the visitor centre – the leveret will remain in the relative safety of the ‘form’ for a few more weeks (the mother or doe may move the leveret to another form) and will be reliant on the mother for milk and nourishment.
The woodlands are coming alive with all the catkins and bird song. Bud burst is in full flow and before we know it the bare twigs and branches will be conceald by the emerging leaves – those birds we can now see will only then be identifiable by their song and call.
Were open everyday so pop along for great walk. (Tim Lawrence)