Birds

15/04/26 A male Mandarin Duck was seen flying north viewed from the Activity Centre in Area 10 by Philip Giles.

14/04/26 On the Old Golf Course in Area 10 a lingering Redwing , a winter migrant was seen by Tim James.

13/04/26 The first returning Common Tern of the year was seen flying high North over Black Swan Lake by Fraser Cottington.

12/04/26 On the beach in front of the Activity Centre was a Common Sandpiper seen by Fraser Cottington.

11/04/26 In front of the Activity centre in Area 10 seen feeding over the lake were 20 Swallow and 4 House Martin . Sighting by Tim James.

10/04/26 In trees over the eastern footpath in the Lavells Car Park field was a Willow Warbler seen by Adam Wigely .

09/04/26 At Ashridge Meadows in Area 7A seen by William Day were 3 Stonechat and a singing Linnet was also heard.

08/04/26 A pair of Mandarin were seen on the Emm Brook near the Car Park field in Area 10 by Colin Holmes.

07/04/26 Seen at the Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill were 2 singing male Blackcap a female Reed Bunting a Snipe flew from the reeds , a male Willow Warbler singing from trees next to Skinner Drive balancing pond and a Little Egret flew up from Ashridge Stream.

06/04/26 Amazingly a 2nd Osprey was seen flying north by David Rimes over Area 10.

05/04/26 Seen in Area 10 today were an Osprey heading north by Marek Walford and 30+ House Martin , 8 Sand Martin and 2 Swallow seen by Fraser Cottington.

04/04/26 2 new Willow Warbler were seen by Peter Lunn in Area 10.

03/04/26 A Green Sandpiper was on the bund at Bittern Hide in Area 10 seen by Paul Jeffery.

02/04/26 Singing from a tree in Area 10 was a Chiffchaff also heard was a calling Greed Woodpecker .

01/04/26 Seen and heard in Area 4 and 5 this morning were Chiffchaff , Blackcap and Willow Warbler all Spring migrants. Also heard were Nuthatch , Song Thrush , Robin and Wren .

Insects

17/04/26 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 14/04/26 and checked this morning . It produced just a catch of 7 moth's of 6 species. Highlights were a Least Black Arches Nola confusalis . With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 50 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

15/04/26 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 14/04/26 and checked this morning . It produced a catch of 18 moth's of 11 species. Highlights were , Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata, Seraphim Lobophora halterata and the micro Hemlock Moth Agonopterix alstroemeriana . With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 49 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

14/04/26 During a walk around Area 10 my first Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria butterfly of the year was seen.

09/04/26 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 08/04/26 and checked this morning . The last of the warm nights for a while produced a catch of 31 moth's of 15 species. Highlights were , Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria , Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea , White spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria , and Yellow-barred Brindle Diaphora mendica . With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 46 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

08/04/26 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 07/04/26 and checked this morning . Finally the warmer weather paid off with a catch of 14 moth's of 11 species. Highlights were , Nut tree Tussock Colocasia coryli , Frosted Green Drymonia ruficornis , Oak tree Pug Drymonia ruficornis and Clouded Drab Diaphora mendica . With 4 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 40 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/04/26 Seen in Area 10 in the sunshine was a Dark-edged bee-fly Bombylius major it has a long, needle-like, non-stinging proboscis for feeding on nectar, often hovering like a helicopter in sunny, sheltered spots. Butterflies were on the wing during my walk around Area 10, seen were Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni , Peacock Aglais Io. Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines , Comma Polygonia c-album , Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus and Green - veined White Pieris napi .

04/04/26 On Common Nettle under an Oak tree in Area 5 near Kingfisher Bridge was a Oak Weevil Curculio glandium .

03/04/26 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 02/04/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 8 moth's of 5 species. Highlights were a Streamer Anticlea derivata , Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis and White-shouldered House-moth Diaphora mendica a micro moth. With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 35 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

02/04/26 Seen enjoying the afternoon sunshine in Area 10 at the car park field were Comma Polygonia c-album and a Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines butterfly.

01/04/26 The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 31/03/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 8 moth's of 7 species. Highlights were a Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis the English and scientific names of this moth are derived from the yellowish colour of the antennae, Great Prominent Orthosia incerta and Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica. The female of this species is white with slightly translucent wings, whereas the male is grey-brown or sooty-grey, although in Ireland it is creamy white or creamy brown. With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is now 32 species. Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

07/04/26 Seen during a quickwalk around Area 10 were Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata , Greater Stichwort Rabelera holostea and Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea .

01/04/26 Seen in Area 4 near Dragonfly Bridge , are Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa One of the first flowers of spring. As a species it’s surprisingly slow to spread (six feet in a hundred years!), relying on the growth of its root structure rather than the spread of its seed. As such, it is a good indicator of ancient woodland.

Fungi/ Lichen

Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified , some are DEADLY when ingested .

Reptiles

Fish

Mammals/Amphibians

13/04/26 An American Mink Neogale vison was seen swimming in the Emm Brook near Meadow Road Bridge in Area 3 by Jurgen Adam.

09/04/26 At 22: 50 a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was seen walking along the pavement outside my house in Area 4.

02/04/26 Seen in Area 10 by Tim James was a Smooth Newt Anemone nemorosa .