Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Spring arrivals and late departures overlap at this wonderful time of year. Warblers trickle onto the reserve as the last of the winter wildfowl gradually leave.
Sand martins pass through in early spring. Swallows usually appear at the beginning of April, followed by house martins that build their nests under the eaves of local houses.
Breeding lapwings arrive from the south, overlapping briefly with the soon-to-depart wintering lapwings. Reed buntings and dunnocks start singing and willow tits begin nesting.
Lapwing chicks, goslings and ducklings become a feature of the reserve.
Summer
In early summer, chiffchaffs still sing their two-note song from treetops. In all, nine species of warbler can be seen or heard: willow, reed, sedge, garden and grasshopper warbler, plus blackcap, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat and chiffchaff.
Swifts, swallows and house martins hunt for insects over the lake and an occasional hobby may appear. Dragonflies fly erratically over the water.
Beautiful flowers bloom in the meadow; non-native wild chicory gives a stunning display of light blue flowers. Teasel grows tall and spiky in readiness for feeding parties of colourful goldfinches.
Mediterranean gulls may appear amongst the numerous black-headed gulls.
Autumn
Waders pass through and the last of the passage migrants drop in to feed.
Snipe numbers build up with occasional jack snipes appearing alongside the more numerous common snipes. Water rails can be glimpsed briefly when they break cover between the reeds.
The leaves turn producing vivid reds, oranges and yellows and ripe berries attract winter thrushes to the hawthorn hedgerows.
Winter ducks start to arrive in large numbers.
Bullfinches visit the feeding station near the visitor centre. Woodland birds become visible again as the leaf-cover diminishes. Huge flocks of jackdaws pass over the reserve on their way to roost as dusk approaches.
Winter
Winter wildfowl including wigeons, teals, pochards, shovelers and goosanders find refuge on Forge Mill Lake and Island. Resident tufted ducks are joined by more of their species from colder parts of the continent. Occasional goldeneyes pass through.
Wintering lapwings flock to the reserve from the north. Fieldfares and redwings gather in the poplar trees before going to roost at the end of the short winter day. Water rails can be heard squealing from the reedbed and marshy areas. Grey herons feed on the lake and marsh pool.
An early great tit sings in January, hinting at the longer days of spring.