Finally, the warmer weather we have all been waiting for has arrived and with it, comes the return of some of our favourite wildlife! Wildflower meadows have begun to bloom, and we have seen Dragonflies, Butterflies, Bees and many more of our insect friends return and join the wildlife at our reserves once more.

Here is a small, but incredible selection on the incredible wildlife that has been spotted across our reserves in May!

Little Woolden Moss

Once a barren peat extraction site, Little Woolden Moss still has a long way to go to restore it to its former glory! Thanks to the hard work of our incredible peatlands team, we are already seeing sphagnum moss and cotton-grass recolonising on the reserve, alongside an incredible array of wildlife.

This fantastic Black-winged Stilt was spotted by Austin Morley on the west pools of Little Woolden Moss! This is such an incredible sighting as this stunning wading bird is a rare visitor to the UK! Their long pink legs allow them to walk through the deeper waters of wetlands and marshes to find a tasty insect treat to eat.  

The incredible Cotton-grass is in full bloom, covering little Woolden Moss in a blanket of white dots at this time of year! Common cotton grass, despite its name, is a member of the sedge family and is a familiar site across our wetlands.

Heysham Nature Reserve

Heysham Nature Reserve is oasis for butterflies and birds located just round the corner from bustling Heysham docks. During spring and summer, the birdsong here is almost deafening! Meadow pipits, sedge warblers, whitethroats, chiffchaffs, greenfinches, linnets and grasshopper warblers are just a handful of the breeding species that add to the spectacular choir.

This handsome little rock Pipit was spotted at Heysham by Janet Packman taking a lunch break! Found close to the rocky coasts of the UK the Rock Pipet feeds on seeds, small molluscs and invertebrates it finds among the stones.

Brockholes Nature Reserve

The incredible mosaic of habitats that makes up Brockholes Nature Reserve is home to a wonderful array of wildlife!

A fantastic Male Broad-bodied Chaser was spotted at Brockholes this month! This wonderful image was taken by Ken Hayes who managed to capture this incredible insect with such clarity. These stunning dragonflies can be spotted flying around from May to July, often around ponds and small lakes.

What will you spot at our nature reserves this month? Let us know on social media using the buttons below.