Bulrush Pond

Portugal Wildlife

Wildlife Seen in, on, around and from Bulrush Pond

Bulrush Pond, a purpose-built wildlife breeding, feeding, drinking and bathing pond. was completed in June 2019. The pond is 18 metres by 8 metres. It is hoped that we will be able to keep the pond full of water all year round by topping it up occasionally from a borehole. It is fully lined to prevent leakage so topping up will require the minimum amount of water. Bulrush Pond - A pond designed for breeding Amphibians, Reptiles, Dragonflies and various aquatic water life. Plus drinking, bathing and feeding by Birds and Mammals.

All Photographs were taken by the website author on the reserve unless otherwise stated.

		AMPHIBIANS
Spiny Toad Bufo spinosus Sapo comum This species has only recently been split from the Common Toad - Bufo bufo
Iberian Newt Lissotriton boscai Tritão Ibérico		Not yet photographed on the reserve
Iberian Water Frog Pelophylax perezi Rã verde		Iberian Water Frogs Mating (Amplexus).
		Tadpole soon to be transformed into a Froglet. Probably an Iberian Water Frog.	Iberian Water Frog - this tiny froglet has just emerged from the tadpole stage in Bulrush Pond.	At night. Note webbing on hind foot.
		Froglet that still has its tail. The tail will soon be 'absorbed' so it will become a proper froglet.	Tadpoles (at night) - most likely of Iberian Water Frog.
		At night.
				Iberian Water Frog at night.

		REPTILES
Iberian Pond Turtle Mauremys leprosa leprosa Cágado Mediterrânico			The first Iberian Pond Turtle to arrive at Bulrush Pond (15/10/2019).
Iberian Psammodromus Psammodromus manuelae Lagartixo do mato		Male.
Western Sand Racer Psammodromus occidentalis Lagartixa do mato ibérica		Male Western Sand Racer in breeding colours.
Viperine Snake Natrix maura Cobra de água viperina			Juvenile hunting Eastern Mosquitofish.	Adult.
			Juvenile.	Juvenile.
		Under water - at bottom on Bulrush Pond.	Viperine Snake sunning itself while hunting Iberian Water Frogs.	Juvenile.
		Viperine Snake in Bulrush Pond at night.		Young Viperine Snake hunting Eastern Mosquito Fish at night.
Western Montpellier Snake Malpolon monspessulanus Cobra rateira		Very young Western Montpellier Snake in Bulrush Pond.	Very young Western Montpellier Snake swimming across Bulrush Pond.

		DAMSELFLIES
Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas Lestes robusto
Migrant Spreadwing Lestes barbarus Lestes mourisco
Small Spreadwing Lestes virens virens Lestes menor
Goblet-marked Damselfly Erythromma lindenii Libelinha do vaso grego				Male.
		Mating Pair.	Male.	Mating.

		Male Goblet-marked Damselfy resting on Water Lily Pad.		Mating pair.
Small Redeye Erythromma viridulum Libelinha de olhos vermelhos
Iberian Bluetail or Bluetailed Damselfly Ischnura graellsii Iscnura ibero magrebina		Male. Note: Blue 'tail-light' is restricted to S9.	Mating pair.	Male.
		Mating pair.	Females can be various colours.	Female.

		DRAGONFLIES
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta Tira olhos outonal		Male.
Blue Emperor Anax imperator Imperador azul; Tira olhos imperador		Female ovipositing.	Male.	Female ovipositing.
		Female egg-laying.
		Male.	Female.
Lesser Emperor Anax parthenope Tira olhos menor		Not yet photographed at Bulrush Pond.
Western Clubtail Gomphus pulchellus Gonfos comum		Newly emerged Female.	Newly emerged Female Western Clubtail - A very early emergence date of 12th March.	Female.
		Female.
Broad Scarlet or Scarlet Dragonfly Crocothemis erythraea Libélula escarlate		Male.	Male.	Male. Note reddish legs and large golden pterostigmas.
		Newly hatched teneral Broad Scarlet - possibly a female.	Male.	Male.
			Male.
Black Percher Diplacodes lefebvrii Libélula preta pequena		Male.	Male.	Male.

		Male.	Male.
Fourspotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata Libélula de quatro pintas
Blacktailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum Ortétrum de cauda negra			Male.
Epaulet Skimmer Orthetrum chrysostigma Ortétrum de faixa branca		Male.	The white diagonal stripe on the thorax is the 'epaulet'.	Male.
		Teneral male.	Tandem mating pair.	Teneral Male. Abdomen not yet fully blue.
			Male.	Teneral Male. Abdomen not yet fully blue.

Long Skimmer Orthetrum trinacria Ortétrum comprido		Male.
Redveined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii Libélula de nervuras vermelhas		Male.	Female. Note black legs with yellow stripes.	Male.
		Female.	Newly emerged Female fell onto pond surface and could not fly free as its wings had not finished drying. But it managed to climb onto a pond plant so that it could dry off and let its wings harden.
		Female.	Larval skin left on water plant shoot after emergence of dragonfly (probably this species).	Newly emerged Female drying her wings.
			Mating pair. In between bout of egg-laying in the Pond.	Female - newly emerged.
		Female.
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum Libélula comum		Common Darters Egg-laying in Bulrush Pond (October).
Violet Dropwing Trithemis annulata Libélula púrpura		Male.	Newly emerged Teneral drying out while sitting on larval case.	Newly emerged Violet Dropwing sitting on its larval case. Probably a female.
		Newly emerged Teneral drying out while sitting on its larval case.		Newly emerged Violet Dropwing sitting on its larval case. Probably a female.
		Teneral - still drying.	Teneral.	Newly emerged Violet Dropwing - probably a male.
Orangewinged Dropwing Trithemis kirbyi Tritémis âmbar		Immature Male. (Photo by Simon). This is an African species that has only been recorded in Portugal since 2016.

		BIRDS
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ibis Carraceiro	Resident.	Cattle Egret in full Breeding plumage at Bulrush Pond.

Little Egret Bubulcus ibis ibis Garça branca	Resident.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea cinerea Garça real	Resident.	Grey Heron soaring having just flown up from Bulrush Pond.	Grey Heron with Viperine Snake prey - at 11.30pm.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus nisus Gavião	Resident.
Redlegged Partridge Alectoris rufa hispanica Perdiz	Breeding Resident.
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix coturnix Codorniz	Resident.	Not yet photographed at Bulrush Pond.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius curonicus Borrelho pequeno de coleira	Summer Visitor. (March to October).	Not yet photographed at Bulrush Pond.
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago gallinago Narceja	Winter Visitor (September to April).
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Maçarico bique bique	Passage/Winter. (June to April).
Feral Pigeon Columba livia Pombo das rochas	Resident.
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Rola turca	Very common resident.
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur turtur Rola brava	Summer Visitor/Passage Migrant.	The European Turtle Dove is categorized as "Vulnerable" by IUCN and it is noted that the population is Decreasing.
Common Barn Owl Tyto alba alba Coruja das torres	Breeding Resident.

Little Owl Athene noctua vidalii Mocho galego	Common Breeding Resident.
Common Swift Apus apus apus Andorinhão preto	Summer Resident.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ispida Guarda rios	Resident.	Male.
		Common Kingfisher with Pumpkinseed.	Common Kingfisher swallowing Pumpkinseed.



Iberian Green Woodpecker Picus sharpie Peto real	Commonly heard and seen Breeding Resident.
Crested Lark Galerida cristata pallida Cotovia de poupa	Resident.
		First proof of breeding for Crested Lark: An Immature drinking at Bulrush Pond.	The warm buffy-orange underwing is characteristic of a Crested Lark. The similar-looking Thekla Lark has a greyish underwing).
		Preening.		With crest lowered.
Woodlark Lullula arborea pallida Cotovia dos bosques	Breeding Resident.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica Andorinha das chaminés	Common Breeding Summer Resident.	Three fledgling Barn Swallows.	Fledgling Barn Swallow food begging.	Adult flying in to feed fledgling Barn Swallow.
		Fledgling Barn Swallow.
Redrumped Swallow Cecropis daurica rufula Andorinha dáurica	Summer Breeding Resident.	Not yet photographed at Bulrush Pond.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis pratensis Petinha dos prados	Winter visitor. Approximately October to April
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea cinerea Alvéola cinzenta	Resident.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Alvéola branca	Resident.
European Robin Erithacus rubecula Two sub-species can occur: E.r. melophilus and E.r. rubecula Pisco de peito ruivo	Common Winter Visitor. Some may be resident.
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos megarhynchos Rouxinol	Summer visitor. (March to October).
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis Rabirruivo	Common Winter Visitor.	Male.
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus Rabirruivo de testa branca	Migrant Visitor.	Male going into Winter plumage.
Eurasian Stonechat Saxicola torquatus rubicola Cartaxo	Common Breeding Resident.	Juvenile.
Common Blackbird Turdus merula merula Melro	Common Breeding Resident.	Male.	Juvenile.	Juvenile.
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos clarkei Tordo pinto	Winter Visitor.
Zitting Cisticola (Fantailed Warbler) Cisticola juncidis cisticola Fuinha dos juncos	Breeding Resident.

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala Toutinegra dos valados	Breeding Resident.
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla heinekin Toutinegra de barrete	Summer Visitor or Resident.	Female.
Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli Felosa de papo branco	Summer Migrant.
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita collybita Felosinha	Abundant Winter Migrant (they over-winter). Approximately October to March.
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus Felosinha musical	Non-Breeding Migrant Visitor. Approximately March to May and July to October.	Juvenile.
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata striata Taralhão cinzento	Summer Resident and/or Migrant.
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Papa moscas	Autumn/Winter Migrant. Several sub-species could occur.
Longtailed Tit (Bushtit) Aegithalos caudatus irbii Chapim rabilongo	Resident.
European Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus weigoldi Chapim de poupa	Resident.
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus ogliastrae Chapim azul	Very Common Breeding Resident.			Juveniles bathing and drinking.

Great Tit Parus major corsus Chapim real	Common Breeding Resident.
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea hispaniensis Trepadeira azul	Common Breeding Resident.
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Papa figos	Summer Breeding Visitor. Occasionally seen and heard.		Female.
			Such a difficult bird to see and photograph !
Iberian Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis meridionalis Picanço real	Common Breeding Resident.		Juvenile
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator rutilans Picanço barreteiro	Summer Breeding Migrant.
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius fasciatus Gaio	Common Resident.
Iberian Azurewinged Magpie Cyanopica cooki Charneco	Very Common Breeding Resident.	Adult (right) and Juvenile (left) drinking.

		Juvenile.
Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor Estorninho preto	Very Common Breeding Resident.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus domesticus Pardal	Very Common Breeding Resident.	Male drinking.	Male landing at Bulrush Pond.	Female with prey in bill.

Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis hispaniolensis Pardal espanhol	Resident.
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Bico de lacre	Occasional - Introduced from Southern Africa. Alien.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs coelebs Tentilhão	Resident.
European Serin Serinus serinus Milheirinha	Resident.
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris vanmarli Verdilhão	Resident.
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis parva Pintassilgo	Breeding Resident.
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina mediterranea Pintarroxo	Breeding Resident.	Male drinking.	Female.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra calandra Trigueirão	Very Common Breeding Resident.

		MAMMALS
Western Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Ouriço cacheiro
Iberian Hare Lepus granatensis Lebre ibérica

		Iberian Hare in the foreground, European Rabbit in the background.

Iberian Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus Coelho bravo

Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Ratinho do campo ; Rato do campo		Wood Mouse about to drink at pond's edge.
Black Rat Rattus rattus Ratazana preta; Rata negra

Mediterranean Polecat Mustela putorius aureola Toirão
Iberian Fox Vulpes vulpes silacea Raposa
Beech Marten Martes foina Fuinha ; Garduña
Iberian Badger Meles meles marianensis Texugo
Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra Lontra
Iberian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon widdringtonii Sacarrabos ; Manguço			Iberian Water Frog leaping away from Iberian Mongoose as it approaches Bulrush Pond for a drink.
Wild Boar Sus scrofa Javali

		FISH
Andalusian Barbel Luciobarbus sclateri Barbo do sul	Iberian Endemic		Andalusian Barbel spawning at night.
Southern Iberian Spined-loach Cobitis paludica Verdemã comum	Iberian Endemic
Bleak Alburnus alburnus Alburno	Alien
Eastern Mosquito Fish Gambusia holbrooki Gambusia	Alien invasive
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus Perca sol	Alien invasive

		OTHER WILDLIFE
Water Beetle Cybister lateralimarginalis Escaravelho de água
Large Yellowheaded Scoliid Wasp Megascolia maculata Vespa mamute		Drinking.

PLANTS	It was not possible to obtain many indigenous pond plants for Bulrush Pond so many of those planted are garden pond ornamentals. But they nevertheless are useful in balancing the pond's ecosystem and provide lots of shade, cover and food for the various animals inhabiting in the pond.
Aquatic Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus).	Marsh Marigold. (Caltha palustris).	Curled Pond Weed (Potamogeton crispus).
Water Mint (Mentha aquatica). With discarded larval case of dragonfly that has just metamorphosed.	Dwarf Papyrus (Cyperus haspans).	European Speedwell (Veronica beccabunga).
Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata).	Powdery Alligator-Flag (Thalia dealbata).	Horsetail (Equisetum sp.).
Water Lily flowers are a good source of nectar for insects such as this species of Hoverfly.	Water Bistort (Persicaria amphibia).

Building Bulrush Pond: A Rationale

Many amphibians on the wildlife reserve attempt to breed in temporary pools of water such as puddles, ditches, Winterbourne streams and so on. Frequently these dry out completely before the amphibians can successfully reach adulthood. Even the large Windmill Pond can dry out completely in a dry year if the river does not flow to refill it. The Hide Pond is really just a water trough and is primarily aimed at animals needing to drink or bathe. It is not ideal, nor designed for, breeding of wildlife. As a result it was decided to create a proper Wildlife Pond that would contain water all year round and be a perfect place for many aquatic or amphibious animals to breed. By creating this pond within our house's garden footprint we have been able to provide a reliable supply of water to top it up at dry times of the year. We are hoping that lots of wildlife such as Dragonflies, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals and Insects, such as water beetles, will utilise this precious water resource.

Established June 2019.

For Photos of the Pond Construction see linke below:

Construction of Bulrush Pond

Wildlife Seen and Heard at Bulrush Pond (Established June 2019)
	aka Southern Cattail Pond
	AMPHIBIANS
1	Sharp-ribbed Newt	Pleurodeles waltl	Salamandra de costelas salientes
2	Iberian Newt	Lissotriton boscai	Tritão Ibérico
3	Spiny Toad	Bufo spinosus	Sapo comum
4	Iberian Water Frog	Pelodytes perezi	Rã verde

	REPTILES
1	Iberian Pond Turtle	Mauremys leprosa leprosa	Cágado Mediterrânico
2	Iberian Psammodromus	Psammodromus manuelae	Lagartixo do mato
3	Western Sand Racer	Psammodromus occidentalis	Lagartixa do mato ibérica
4	Viperine Snake	Natrix maura	Cobra de água viperina
5	Western Montpellier Snake	Malpolon monspessulanus	Cobra rateira

	DAMSELFLIES
1	Emerald Spreadwing	Lestes dryas	Lestes robusto
2	Migrant Spreadwing	Lestes barbarus	Lestes mourisco
3	Small Spreadwing	Lestes virens virens	Lestes menor
4	Goblet-marked Damselfly	Erythromma lindenii	Libelinha do vaso grego
5	Small Redeye	Erythromma viridulum	Libelinha de olhos vermelhos
6	Iberian Bluetail	Ischnura graellsii	Iscnura ibero magrebina

	DRAGONFLIES
1	Migrant Hawker	Aeshna mixta	Tira olhos outonal
2	Blue Emperor	Anax imperator	Imperador azul
3	Lesser Emperor	Anax parthenope	Tira olhos menor
4	Western Clubtail	Gomphus pulchellus	Gonfos comum
5	Broad Scarlet	Crocothemis erythraea	Libélula escarlate
6	Black Percher	Diplacodes lefebvrii	Libélula preta pequena
7	Fourspotted Chaser	Libellula quadrimaculata	Libélula de quatro pintas
8	Blacktailed Skimmer	Orthetrum cancellatum	Ortétrum de cauda negra
9	Epaulet Skimmer	Orthetrum chrysostigma	Ortétrum de faixa branca
10	Long Skimmer	Orthetrum trinacria	Ortétrum comprido
11	Redveined Darter	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Libélula de nervuras vermelhas
12	Common Darter	Sympetrum striolatum	Libélula comum
13	Violet Dropwing	Trithemis annulata	Libélula púrpura
14	Orangewinged Dropwing	Trithemis kirbyi	Tritémis âmbar

	BIRDS
1	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis ibis	Carraceiro
2	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta garzetta	Garça branca
3	Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea cinerea	Garça real
4	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus nisus	Gavião
5	Redlegged Partridge	Alectoris rufa hispanica	Perdiz
6	Common Quail	Coturnix coturnix coturnix	Codorniz
7	Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius curonicus	Borrelho pequeno de coleira
8	Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago gallinago	Narceja
9	Green Sandpiper	Tringa ochropus	Maçarico bique bique
10	Feral Pigeon	Columba livia	Pombo das rochas
11	Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Rola turca
12	European Turtle Dove	Streptopelia turtur	Rola brava
13	Common Barn Owl	Tyto alba alba	Coruja das torres
14	Little Owl	Athene noctua vidalii	Mocho galego
15	Common Swift	Apus apus apus	Andorinhão preto
16	Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis ispida	Guarda rios
17	Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops epops	Poupa
18	Iberian Green Woodpecker	Picus sharpei	Peto real
19	Crested Lark	Galerida cristata pallida	Cotovia de poupa
20	Woodlark	Lullula arborea pallida	Cotovia dos bosques
21	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica rustica	Andorinha das chaminés
22	Redrumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica rufula	Andorinha dáurica
23	Meadow Pipit	Anthus pratensis pratensis	Petinha dos prados
24	Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea cinerea	Alvéola cinzenta
25	White Wagtail	Motacilla alba alba	Alvéola branca
26	European Robin	Erithacus rubecula	Pisco de peito ruivo
27	Common Nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos megarhynchos	Rouxinol
28	Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis	Rabirruivo
29	Common Redstart	Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus	Rabirruivo de testa branca
30	Eurasian Stonechat	Saxicola torquatus rubicola	Cartaxo
31	Common Blackbird	Turdus merula merula	Melro
32	Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos philomelos	Tordo pinto
33	Zitting Cisticola	Cisticola juncidis cisticola	Fuinha dos juncos
34	Sardinian Warbler	Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala	Toutinegra dos valados
35	Eurasian Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla heinekin	Toutinegra de barrete
36	Western Bonelli's Warbler	Phylloscopus bonelli	Felosa de papo branco
37	Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita collybita	Felosinha
38	Willow Warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus	Felosinha musical
39	Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata striata	Taralhão cinzento
40	Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca iberiae	Papa moscas
41	Longtailed Tit	Aegithalos caudatus irbii	Chapim rabilongo
42	European Crested Tit	Lophophanes cristatus weigoldi	Chapim de poupa
43	Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus ogliastrae	Chapim azul
44	Great Tit	Parus major corsus	Chapim real
45	Eurasian Nuthatch	Sitta europaea hispaniensis	Trepadeira azul
46	Eurasian Golden Oriole	Oriolus oriolus	Papa figos
47	Iberian Grey Shrike	Lanius meridionalis meridionalis	Picanço real
48	Woodchat Shrike	Lanius senator rutilans	Picanço barreteiro
49	Eurasian Jay	Garrulus glandarius fasciatus	Gaio
50	Iberian Azurewinged Magpie	Cyanopica cooki	Charneco
51	Spotless Starling	Sturnus unicolor	Estorninho preto
52	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus domesticus	Pardal
53	Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis hispaniolensis	Pardal espanhol
54	Common Waxbill	Estrilda astrild astrild or E.a. jagoensis	Bico de lacre
55	Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs coelebs	Tentilhão
56	European Serin	Serinus serinus	Milheirinha
57	European Greenfinch	Carduelis chloris vanmarli	Verdilhão
58	European Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis parva	Pintassilgo
59	Common Linnet	Carduelis cannabina mediterranea	Pintarroxo
60	Corn Bunting	Emberiza calandra calandra	Trigueirão

	MAMMALS
1	Western Hedgehog	Erinaceus europaeus	Ouriço cacheiro
2	Iberian Hare	Lepus granatensis	Lebre ibérica
3	Iberian Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus	Coelho bravo
4	Wood Mouse	Apodemus sylvaticus	Rato do campo
5	Black Rat	Rattus rattus	Rato preto
6	Iberian Fox	Vulpes vulpes silacea	Raposa
7	Mediterranean Polecat	Mustela putorius aureola	Toirão
8	Beech Marten	Martes foina	Fuinha
9	Iberian Badger	Meles meles marianensis	Texugo
10	Eurasian Otter	Lutra lutra	Lontra
11	Iberian Mongoose	Herpestes ichneumon widdringtonii	Sacarrabos
12	Wild Boar	Sus scrofa	Javali

	FISH
1	Andalusian Barbel	Luciobarbus sclateri	Barbo do sul
2	Southern Iberian Spined-loach	Cobitis paludica	Verdemã comum
3	Bleak	Alburnus alburnus	Alburno
4	Eastern Mosquitofish	Gambusia holbrooki	Gambusia
5	Pumpkinseed	Lepomis gibbosus	Perca sol

	OTHER WILDLIFE
1	Water Beetle	Cybister lateralimarginalis	Escaravelho de água
2	Large Yellowheaded Scoliid Wasp	Megascolia maculata	Vespa mamute

108	<--- Total Number of Species Recorded