Red footed falcon
On Wednesday (26/05/10) an adult male red footed falcon was present at Wilstone Reservoir all day. It was joined by a first summer male on Thursday with this bird remaining to provide excellent views to visiting birders and walkers throughout the weekend. It was still present on Monday and this morning (1/06/10).
Good numbers of hobbies have also been seen over the past week, often in the company of the red footed falcon. Good places to watch them are along the reservoir bank, especially overlooking the reedbeds and from the hide.
Spring update
Now that spring is well under way many different birds have been seen at Wilstone over the last month. Perhaps the best sighting was of a red rumped swallow at the beginning of May, seen amongst a flock of swallows and martins.
Marsh harriers have been seen regularly as they migrate to breeding areas. Scan the reedbed and you may be lucky enough to spot one. They occasionally roost in the reedbed overnight before departing fairly quickly the next morning.
Common terns have returned in good numbers, using the rafts provided for nesting. Small numbers of little gulls have also been seen. A good range of waders have also been seen, including whimbrel, dunlin and greenshank. Common sandpipers have been quite easy to spot as they characteristically 'bob' their tails whilst searching for insects on the algae bunds.
Excellent views of swifts can be had simply by standing on the top of the bank by the car park and watching them swoop past you, especially if the weather is poor as they will be forced down from the sky. Hobbies have been seen in good numbers, the hide is an excellent place to get good views of these expert aerial hunters.
The seasons at Wilstone
Spring brings passage and summer migrants. Breeding duck include Gadwall and Shoveler, and the reserve has one of the county's three regular heronries. Flowering plants include celery-leaved and goldilocks buttercups.
The summer moult flocks of Tufted Duck and Pochard are of national importance.
Autumn passage again brings terns, gulls and other vagrants.
In winter waterbirds include nationally important levels of Shoveler as well as Teal and Wigeon. The nightly gull roost can be in excess of 20,000 birds, and corn buntings roost in the reedbed.
