May on the Reserve

If you go down to the Wildflower Meadow you should see the work of the Reserve volunteers and staff. Over the last few weeks, the team has worked hard replacing two long sections of boardwalk, including supporting timbers and tread boards. The boardwalk is a definite place to visit and the perfect platform to observe the life of the meadow. A later flowering season, due to a cold start and lack of rain has meant the meadow is slightly later coming into bloom. Taking a wander at the moment will offer Cuckooflower, Ragged Robin, Silverweed, Yellow Flag-iris and Water Forget-me-not. The much needed, recent rainfall will hopefully lead to the Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids popping up in June.

Other tasks ticked off the list include fencing one of the grazing fields, filling in potholes along the farm tracks, setting up water catchment tanks on the hay barn for livestock as well as ongoing mowing of pathways and cutting back vegetation along the tour route.

Volunteer, Peter has been busy again, constructing more bird boxes for the reserve. Three Little Owl boxes have been erected on Oak Trees and can be viewed from the Explorer Tour. Little Owls are the smallest and least observed of the Owl species found on site. We are hoping, by offering more suitable nesting areas, these small, but charismatic birds will once again breed on site. Three small-hole nestboxes have also been put out near the Den Building Area, replacing old boxes.

Hot off the press, our first Avocet chicks of 2025 were sighted on bank holiday Monday (26^th). At time of writing, seven young from four pairs were visible on the Waderscrape. Over at the Wensum Wetland the Lapwing pair had three chicks. This is all very positive after last year’s failed attempts due to high water levels. Little Ringed Plover have been displaying regularly at the Waderscrape (fingers crossed for nesting!) and one pair of Common Terns have begun nesting on Old Squaw Lake.

Dragonfly season kicked off in early May with Hairy Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Norfolk Hawker all on the wing along with Banded Demoiselle and Azure Blue Damselflies. Small Copper, Common Blue and Painted Lady brought our 2025 butterfly list up to 14 species. Warden, Libby, recorded a site first, when she spotted three Fallow Deer near Rushy Marsh (22^nd May). This now brings our site deer total to five species and our overall mammal total to 35!