Summer and redwing, arriving from the north will make a Nature Trail beeline for any fruit-rich hedgerows to rebuild their One swallow may not make a strength after their long flight south from Scandinavia. spring, but the arrival of the These well-managed hedgerows act as a well-stocked 1 WINTER WILDFOWL. Large numbers of wildfowl swifts definitely heralds larder for an enormous number of animals through travel here from northern Europe each year to spend the arrival of the Common the autumn and winter. their winter in the Nene Valley. Teal, wigeon, pochard summer. The last tern and tufted duck are all common, with smaller of the summer Also moving south numbers of goldeneye and shoveler. They are joined visitors to arrive, these are the waders, which by hundreds of golden plover and lapwing which use birds will have been flying non-stop drop in to feed on the the low-lying islands as a safe roost, feeding out on since they left their breeding sites last exposed muddy shoreline. nearby fields. August. They return here to feed on the midges Common species to look out and other flying insects over the water, before for on the wader scrape include 2 ALDERS AND FINCHES. During the winter heading to their nesting colonies in nearby villages. Yellow redshank and greenshank, wagtail months, small flocks of siskin can often be found common and green sandpipers, feeding high in the trees on alder cones. The male is The low-lying islands are home to a busy colony of which may be joined by occasional turnstone, a particularly handsome finch, bright yellow beneath, breeding black-headed gulls. The comings and goings whimbrel or spotted redshank. green above and with a black cap and chin. of these birds can be extremely noisy, as they quarrel with their neighbours over nest sites or join together Winter 3 GRAVEL ISLANDS.The low-lying islands are to mob the crows or larger gulls that may try to take As the autumn turns to winter, so the numbers of home to nesting common terns, oystercatcher and their eggs or young. Hidden away amongst the gulls, wildfowl build up. Particularly during hard cold spells, ringed plovers during the summer. These three sitting lower on their nests, are a small number of keep an eye out for smew, a handsome little white species are more normally thought of as coastal common terns. Smaller and more graceful than the and black diving duck which occasionally visits in birds, nesting on shingle beaches, but have moved gulls, the terns catch fish by diving into the water. ones and twos. inland in recent decades as gravel excavation has resulted in similar conditions. Roesel’s Bush In late summer, the The rough grassland is Cricket tussocky grassland grazed by wigeon 4 TREE SPARROWS.Tree sparrows are a particular comes alive with and gaggles of both speciality of this reserve. The mature hedgerow that the songs of Barn owl greylag and Canada runs along the eastern edge of the reserve is home to grasshoppers and geese. If it has been the largest breeding colony in , and crickets. A particularly a good year, the the birds can be seen throughout the year from the noisy song comes from grassland will be alive Charles Towler hide, visiting the feeding station. Roesel’s bush cricket, a large and colourful insect with small mammals. that sounds like the buzzing of electricity pylons. Common shrew and field 5 KIM’S CORNER. At the northernmost point of the Once restricted to the south coast, this species has voles are particularly reserve, Kim’s Corner is a fragment of species-rich spread north across the country in the last decade, numerous, while careful neutral grassland, once widespread in the Nene perhaps in response to warmer summers. inspection of the taller Valley but now only found at a handful of sites. At its reeds and rushes may best during the summer, look out for great burnet, Autumn reveal the ball-shaped lady’s bedstraw and bird’s-foot trefoil. woven nests of the Autumn is a time of plenty in the hedgerows around harvest mouse, our 6 OTTER. Otters are a rare but regular visitor to the the reserve. The shrubs are a mass of fruit for the smallest rodent. Harvest mice spend their time reserve as they increase in numbers throughout the next few months. Look out for dog rose hips, feeding up amongst the tall stems, holding on with Nene Valley. Their tracks and signs are regularly hawthorn haws, blackthorn sloes and the berries of their prehensile tail. found along the river, but to catch a glimpse of the bramble, elder and buckthorn. These autumn fruits animal itself requires luck. are a vital source of food for thrushes and finches, As day turns to dusk and your thoughts turn to wood mice and squirrels, even badgers and foxes. heading home, remember to keep a look out for the 7 BIRDS OF PREY. When all the birds on the reserve barn owl. This ghostly pale bird is present all year panic, look upwards. They may have been spooked The hedgerows often prove very popular with round, but is perhaps most easily spotted during the by a hunting peregrine. This large falcon winters migrant birds heading south. Blackcaps stock up on winter as it quarters the grassland, hunting for field here, feeding on the wildfowl that make the valley so elderberries before finally leaving for warmer climes, voles. special. In the summer, the peregrine is replaced by while later on in the autumn winter thrushes, fieldfare its smaller cousin, the hobby. This sleek little falcon with its rusty red thighs specializes in hunting dragonflies and hirundines (swallows and martins).

R eedbed 8 BUTTERFLIES. Warm sheltered spots are good places to watch for butterflies. During the spring, look New woodland 5 Kim's corner out for the bright yellow brimstone and the dainty R eedbed orange-tip. Later in the summer, common blue and Dry gras s land brown argus may be found. In some years large New woodland Toad pond numbers of painted lady may be seen, a real long Open water 6 Dry gras s land distance traveller of the butterfly world, flying here C ircular walk every summer from North Africa! Open water Wheelchair acces s ible paths Charles Towler hide/ 9 DRAGONFLIES. During the high summer, the air C ircular wRaelskerve boundary feeding station y can be alive with dragonflies: 16 species of a 4 w Gull Island WheelchaRiroacdces s ible paths il dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded here. ra d e Viewing During June, check the reedy margins of Marigold R es erve boundary s u P C ar park is screen Pond for the hairy dragonfly, a species that first R oad D Hawthorn Island colonized the county in the later 1990s. Around the 7 main lake, watch for the powder-blue black-tailed P C ar park skimmer flying low over the water, a favourite food Eddie's Island Round Island for the hobby. Check floating lily pads for the aptly- N named red-eyed damselfly. Sheltered hedgerows are Paul Britten a favourite hunting ground for the migrant hawker in 3 Hide T the later summer. o G 8 D rea Wader odd t Rotary Island ing Scrape ton Rotary Hide Pioneer Hide Marigold pond 1 To W olla s ton 9 2 P

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