Wildlife Review 2023: Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish

Mammals 

The ever-present Rabbit were seen throughout the year with peak numbers noted in the spring as young emerge from their birth burrows. As usual rabbit diseases were noted, but didn't seem any more prevalent than in previous years, however the population remains at a very low ebb.

Although luck is required to see these elusive rodents, Water Vole were noted in each month of the year with sightings from all the ponds on site. The nocturnal habits of Brown Rat mean few are recorded with early morning sightings around the seawall and resort amenities. Even more elusive are mice with just two sightings of Wood Mouse in February and July. 

Wood Mouse - Elizabeth Mulgrew

Previously irregular in occurrence, a Grey Squirrel took up (temporary?) residence in woodland from October to the end of the year, with perhaps the same individual seen on a couple of occasions in June and July. No positive sightings of Bank or Field Vole this year.

Grey Squirrel - Alan Keatley

There was evidence of Mole on site for the first time since 2020, with fresh molehills near the Go-kart track in January. Heavy and persistent rain at the time presumably bring them closer to the surface after surviving deep in the soil during the recent dry summers. Absent again during the summer, more fresh molehills were noted in October. The only shrews reported were a Water Shrew by the Main Pond on 7th March and a dead Common Shrew on 25th July.

There were few actual sightings of Fox with the first on 12th March, although regular footprints in dunes indicated a permanent presence. An ermine coated Stoat on 15th January wrongly anticipated snowy weather, other sightings were of two on 18th November, as with Fox, footprints are however regular. An unfortunate Badger was found dead in the Buffer Zone on 11th May with evidence of its presence first noted in February. Still rarely seen, a wasp nest dug out and raided on 18th September was further evidence of the species wandering on to the site.

Exposed Common Wasp nest - Alan Keatley

Common Pipistrelle could be seen on warm evenings heading onto site following the scrub along the edge of the car park. 

Seals were seen on an almost daily basis in January with at least three Grey Seal and a Common Seal in the estuary, usually resting on the mussel barge. Indicating seasonality there were no sightings between 11th February (both species) and a Grey Seal on 18th April. Only one or two Grey Seal a month were noted between May and August. Numbers started to pick up again in September with four on 25th and singles on various dates until the end of the year.

Common and three Grey Seal - Alan Keatley

Seawatching produced regular sightings of cetaceans with the first Harbour Porpoise, two on 11th February and one on 19th. Another two were noted on 23rd-30th September. The final sighting was on 25th November. Pods of Common Dolphin of varying numbers were noted with a minimum of two on 19th March, ten on 8-9th July, fifteen on 15th July, two on 13th August, two on 12th October and three on 18th and seven on 20th November. The only sighting of the declining Bottle-nosed Dolphin were two on 10th May.

Reptiles and Amphibians 

Sand Lizard ventured out for the first time on 19th March, with Common Lizard on 3rd April. Regular sightings of Common Lizard occurred between April and early October. The next reported Sand Lizard was lunch for a hunting Kestrel on 25th April. Sand Lizard remained largely elusive with two on 20th July and one on 25th. The last reported sighting was on 23rd September. 

Sand Lizard - Lee Collins

Common Toad and Common Frog numbers fluctuate yearly with 2023 poor for both species with only a few adult toads reported and low numbers of toadlets. Common Frog is irregularly recorded on site with just one adult this year on 15th March.

A Common Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus was discovered during management of the Main Pond, a second record after one found in a similar manner last year. No doubt an illegal pet release, hopefully only two more remain. 

Fish

Few species are regularly recorded and some via capture by birds. Falling into that category were Lesser Sandeel, Plaice and Thick-lipped Grey Mullet. Other species reported were Common Blenny on 13th March, Starry Smooth-hound on 8th May and Sea Trout on 13th August. 

Plaice - Kevin Rylands

The spectacular Atlantic Bluefin Tuna was seen breaching in the bay on 12th October,  a recent addition to the site list and seen for the third year in a row. Rudd remain the only species recorded from the Main Pond.