Wildlife Review 2025: Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish

Mammals

A good year in terms of species recorded, although the presence of many land mammals were revealed by track and signs. Falling into this category were Fox with regular footprints along the beach and the Dune Ridge but animals rarely seen. A set of adult and cub footprints in August, presumably the cub learning to hunt by following the adult, with a den somewhere on Warren Point. A Fox wandering on the Railway Saltmarsh in September was more likely a visitor from the "mainland". 

Other hunters included a Weasel sighting in January and numerous Stoat footprints noted on the Dune Ridge throughout the year. A dug out wasp nest in September in Dead Dolphin Wood showed the continuing presence of at least one elusive Badger this year.

Hedgehog are also rarely seen on site, with footprints along the beach in March the only evidence this year. Fresh molehills in the usual place near the crazy golf was the only indication of the continuing presence of Mole. Much more visible, and noisy at times, a Grey Squirrel remained on site until May, with a single sighting in December near the reserve entrance.

A better year for records of small mammals; Water Vole are widespread on the reserve and Golf Course ponds but sightings are rare, only recorded on eight occasions, mainly from the Main Pond viewing platform. More elusive (although not to avian and mammalian hunters) Bank Vole was only noted twice. 

Water Vole 13th July - Kevin Rylands

The ever-present Rabbit recorded on 115 days, compared with 68 day/sightings in 2024, mostly at quiet times of the day, and quiet areas of the Recording Area including the golf course. Disease, although still prevalent, was not as noticeable this year. Brown Rat are also ever-present but are rarely recorded, all coming from the tourist end of the spit.

Other rodents included Wood Mouse in January and an old Harvest Mouse nest found in Greenland Lake in April. Hyper-active shrews included single sightings in April and May of Common Shrew with a Pygmy Shrew also in April. Most bizarrely a Water Shrew wandering through Glasswort in The Bight in broad daylight on 31st July.

Water Shrew 31st July - Alan Keatley

A good year for bats with four species recorded, both Common and Soprano Pipistrelle regular and new for the Recording Area, evidence of roosting Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bat detected on 21st May.

Marine mammals included 27 sightings of Grey Seal throughout the year, up to four individuals, both offshore and in estuary, compared with just three sightings of Common Seal with singletons in estuary in February, July and September. The favoured haul out barge in the estuary is north of the Recording Area.

Common Seal 5th February - Kevin Rylands

Cetaceans recorded were Common Dolphin between May and September, mostly in May, and mainly in single figures, except for twelve on 12th May and fifteen on 24th. In the past Bottle-nosed Dolphin were much more frequent, only five sightings this year between February and September with maximum five on 11th July. Harbour Porpoise recorded five time between February and August in ones or twos.

Reptiles

The usual two lizards were the only species seen; although recorded on 21 days between February and October, usually in ones or two with a maximum six on 1st April, it appeared to be a poor breeding year for Common Lizard with few Immatures noted. Compared with counts of over twenty on a single day, with good numbers of immatures, in 2024.

Common Lizard 4th May - Kevin Rylands

Sand Lizard was recorded on eleven days between March and August in ones and two, nearly always on the Dune Ridge. Continuing storm damage to this area endangers this introduced and nationally scarce reptile.

Sand Lizard 3rd May - Lee Collins

Amphibians

Common Frog was noted on five occasions between February and August, with spawn and crocking adults in the spring. Common Toad are much commoner than frogs on site. Recorded frequently between March and November, with 40 toadlets on 29th May, a sample count. Toadlets provide a food source for breeding birds, including unfortunately, invasive released Pheasant. The first record of Palmate Newt for several years, recorded between March and May, was an individual was found under a log by the Golf Course with others in a nearby pond.

Common Frog 18th June - Kevin Rylands

Fish

By their nature fish species are under-recorded on site with the exception of large shoal of Rudd on the Main Pond from January, attaching Grey Heron, Kingfisher and occasional Cormorant, and also providing food for breeding Little Grebe and Moorhen. A Mirror Carp found dead on the beach on 9th January was an unusual find. more typical marine fish included the spectacular Atlantic Bluefin Tuna on 28th February; first recorded in 2020, warmer waters have led to increased records in recent years. Other sea fish included Lesser-spotted Dogfish, Bass, Flounder, Plaice, Thick-lipped Mullet, Greater Pipefish, Lesser Sandeel, Sand Goby and Garfish, mainly recorded as prey items.

Mirror Carp 9th January - Kevin Rylands