It’s always exciting to visit the developing reserve at
Wissey Wetland, as you are never quite sure what new delights you will
encounter. Thursday 21 February was no
exception with the star sighting a lone Crane circling above the Hilgay site
for several minutes before drifting off towards Hilgay. Although breeding in the Fens already, this
was the first confirmed sighting at the reserve and demonstrates the
attractiveness of the site in its early stages of development.
The site also hosted two Green Sandpipers,
which are probably overwintering. A
large number of wildfowl, mostly Teal and Mallard but with some Shelduck, were
present and hopefully some of these will stay to breed in the newly created
ditch network. One pair of Egyptian
Geese already had a brood of eight goslings in early February but there was no
sign of these on the current visit.
 |
Red Deer taken with a remote camera, by Arnie Cooke
|
Some remote cameras were also retrieved after being present
for two weeks, on the Methwold side. Some interesting shots and videos have been recorded including Badger,
Red (see above) and Roe Deer, Muntjac, Stoat, Weasel, Brown Hare and Grey
Partridge, the last only rarely being recorded on the site. The cameras will give us some information
about how species such as Badger and Red Deer use the site which will help in
the design of the wetland site and its future management.
No comments:
Post a Comment