Langdyke volunteer Jackie Robinson reports regularly on what’s happening on our reserves. Here’s her report for March ...
Two thirds of the way through March and still the weather is changeable. We had some nice warm days with blue sky when everything started to grow but as I’m writing this it is very grey and wet but mild.
At Swaddywell a few butterflies were seen by the Thursday workparty, but the official monitoring doesn’t start officially for a couple of weeks. Brimstones seem to be the most visible so far, but Comma and Peacock are starting to show. Let’s hope for a better count than last year, it was very poor.
Also, at Swaddywell a common lizard was seen basking on a tyre and a juvenile grass snake slithered by when the volunteers were clearing the invasive Old Man’s Beard from the cliff area.
There are quite a few Bee orchid rosettes showing through the soil and the Coltsfoot is brightening up a very wet pit area. In the large pond water mint was evident when we waded in, we could smell it.
The cabin pond is a law unto itself, after being manually emptied, it filled itself to nearly overflowing and now it is emptying again. We have decided to monitor the pond for this year and get a better idea how to restore it in 2026. We believe a rising water table is a factor. We did spot two smooth newts in the remaining vegetation at the newt count on March 9.
The natural spring in the transient pond is not showing now and hopefully that little area will stay wet enough for long enough for the newts who were spotted in there at the count recently. The numbers of smooth and Great Crested Newts spotted on the evening of March 9 were disappointing but the second count in April may be better. I will give an update then.
At Etton-Maxey reserve there are signs of badger and otter activity. Steve Lonsdale has posted some videos of the evidence on the Langdyke Facebook page here.
Be sure to keep your eyes open for evidence when out and about and let us know what you see. Neil Malton also reported plenty of Skylarks at the reserve so please tread carefully if you visit Etton-Maxey and stay on the paths. The Monday group have also seen and heard gulls, grebe, lapwing and coots on the water getting in the mood for love.
The new Christ College pit is attracting waterfowl and Steve Zealand has photographed Great Crested Grebe and Greylag geese from the viewing platform. It will be exciting to see how this newly acquired reserve develops.
Both mine and Sarah Lambert’s garden form part of the ninth reserve and just recently Sarah posted a photo of a male Sparrowhawk watching her working on her computer. See the Facebook page for the photo. Sarah is at the time of writing, guiding a Wildlife Travel holiday in Cyprus. In June she is guiding a bespoke holiday in the Vercors, France for Langdyke members. I went on this holiday last year and it was amazing. Look out in 2026 for more of these small, friendly wildlife and botanically charged holidays.
In my Helpston garden I have had quite a few Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings feeding from the ground feeders. I love to see them; their bright yellow heads make me smile and the Reed Buntings are coming closer to the house to feed. One hedgehog is back and tucking into the cat biscuits and last night I opened the French doors to hear frogs calling from the pond, they were so loud. Finally got frogspawn on March 25 (main picture, above) having seen some coupled up (I believe the term is ‘amplexus’.) This is the term for the mating position in frogs, where the male clasps the female, typically from behind, with his forelimbs. Thanks Google search!
In future newsletter articles we will be asking the reserve wardens for exciting sightings and updates on their reserves. You will notice various information boards on the reserves asking you to photograph and report back your sightings. Please do let us know what you see when visiting and try to be as accurate as possible as to what and where you spotted something. Monitoring records are kept for all reserves and many eyes make light work. It was reported on a Cambridgeshire birding group page that the two resident Glossy Ibis at Deeping Lakes had been seen at Etton-Maxey. Imagine coming across those on a gentle stroll through the reserve.
Enjoy the hopefully warmer spring days with the clocks changing. Do keep in touch via social media and don’t forget to think about volunteering. There will be some Saturday workparties coming up – the website will advertise them.
The picture (above) along the Drain at Etton was taken by Richard Astle in March when he had a successful evening walk spotting 25 Sand Martins, three Little ringed plover, three Marsh Harriers and one Great White Egret.
Happy Easter everyone.