What's About August 2010

Birds

Barn Owl
A bird was seen at the edge of the crop field on 7th August.

Blackcap
Look out for Blackcaps in mixed feeding flocks this month.

Common Whitethroat
With many juveniles on the wing, birds can be seen all round the reserve this month, often just outside the visitor centre.

Grey Heron
Present on all the wetland areas. Look out for them in riverside trees behind the duck marsh this month.

Kestrel
Following a successful breeding season, birds can be seen daily hunting all round the reserve.

Kingfisher
Birds are being seen much more regularly again after a poor start to the year. Two juveniles were caught and ringed in the reedbed on 17th July.

Lapwing
As at 10th August a flock had been seen daily on the farmland with up to 150 birds reported.

Little Grebe
Seen daily on the lagoon with up to 10 birds reported. At least two pairs have bred successfully this year.

Reed Bunting
Present in good numbers on all the wetland areas. Birds have again bred successfully on the crop field this year.

Reed Warbler
There has been a good breeding population this year. Birds can be seen on the reedbed and duck marsh this month.

Sedge Warbler
Present in good numbers on all the wetland areas. Birds have again bred successfully on the crop field this year.

Snipe
Seen most days on the wet grassland with up to five birds reported.

Tree Sparrow
One was seen on the feeder in the Sensory Garden recently. Watch out for them here and in the Manager's Garden this month.

Water Rail
A bird has been seen regularly on the duck marsh since 28th July.

Willow Tit
One was on the feeder in the Sensory Garden on 7th August. Worth looking out for here and in the Manager's Garden this month.

Willow Warbler
Watch out for Willow Warblers in mixed feeding flocks this month.

Butterflies

Look out for Peacock and Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined White and Speckled Wood are also around. This chart shows when the various species were seen on the reserve in 2008.

Dragonflys

Brown Hawkers have been flying for a few weeks, they can be seen all around the reserve. The ponds are a good place to look for Southern Hawkers, Common Darters and Common Blue Damselfly. Banded Demioselles are most likely to be seen by the river. This chart shows when the various species were seen on the reserve in 2008, we hope to produce a chart for 2009 when the data has been complied.

During the course of last year work has been completed on Phase 2 of the dragonfly area. The paths have been turfed and Tim's path on the north side has been raised so that it can be used throughout the year - it has often been flooded through much of the Winter. The bridge over the long ditch (which everyone calls the canal) has proved a good place to spot Newts. We are grateful to WREN, the Big Lottery Fund,The Friends of Rodley NR, the Leeds Philosophical & Literary Society, The British Dargonfly Society and the Coop for providing the funding that has made this all possible.

There is proof of breeding (i.e. finding exuviae - or the skins from emerged nymphs) over the last three years for seven species - The Azure Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies, the Brown & Southern Hawkers, The Emperor Dragonfly, the Broad-bodied Chaser and the Common Darter. Two others, the Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies are almost certainly breeding and possibly also the Migrant Hawker. It is also likely that the Banded Demoiselle is breeding in the river adjacent to the reserve. It is hoped that the provision of more varied habitats in Phase 2 will encourage even more species to breed on the reserve.

Apart from encouraging dragonflies to the reserve, the dragonfly area is providing suitable habitat for other animals, such as amphibians and small mammals, by establishing log and stone piles; also there is an insect hibernation tower adjacent to the Chadwick Pond.