Sunday 26th May
Dull start with little bits of rain at times but only light, walkabout before breakfast revealed not much at all, no Tufted ducks on the pool this morning, but the GC grebe was catching small fish for the youngsters.
Saturday 25th May
Didn't get out much yesterday, this morning though was beautiful first thing, amazed to see pair of Tufted ducks on the pool again and they were still there when I left.
Heron has found a new roost, trying to trick me I reckon, he or she does seem quite comfortable with me on being so close though.
Went out then looking for hoverflies, no luck there though, but did see my first broad bodied chasers of the year at the three pools, also common blue butterflies along with one small copper.
Lots of damselflies and ladybirds on the wing.
The afternoon was better for hovers as you can see from below, say three young blue tits flitting about, also couple nuthatches, quite a few hornets about also.
A first for me was a stoat or a weasel down by Pirates Wood also in this area were some Common Blues but otherwise a pretty dull day for butterflies and moths.
Tufted Duck
Heron
Broad Bodied Chaser
Common Blue
Broad Bodied Chaser
Hoverfly - male Merodon equestris
Hoverfly - female Syrphus sp
Azure damselfly
Hoverfly - male Chrysotoxum cautum
Hoverfly - female Syrphus ribesii
Ashy Mining Bee - female Andrena cineraria
Hoverfly - female Myathropa florea (a very dark one)
Thursday 23rd May
Much the same as yesterday, amazingly two tufted ducks were there again and again they flew off within minutes of my arrival.
The third GC Grebe had gone, all quiet everywhere else.
Heron is here there and everywhere at the moment!
Couple of Swallows skimming over Captain's early on.
Male Merodon equestris
Male Merodon equestris.
Male Leucozona lucorum
Female Cheilosa pagana
Wednesday 22nd May
Dull start with little bits of rain at times but only light, walkabout before breakfast revealed not much at all, no Tufted ducks on the pool this morning, but the GC grebe was catching small fish for the youngsters.
Saturday 25th May
Didn't get out much yesterday, this morning though was beautiful first thing, amazed to see pair of Tufted ducks on the pool again and they were still there when I left.
Heron has found a new roost, trying to trick me I reckon, he or she does seem quite comfortable with me on being so close though.
Went out then looking for hoverflies, no luck there though, but did see my first broad bodied chasers of the year at the three pools, also common blue butterflies along with one small copper.
Lots of damselflies and ladybirds on the wing.
The afternoon was better for hovers as you can see from below, say three young blue tits flitting about, also couple nuthatches, quite a few hornets about also.
A first for me was a stoat or a weasel down by Pirates Wood also in this area were some Common Blues but otherwise a pretty dull day for butterflies and moths.
Tufted Duck
Heron
Broad Bodied Chaser
Common Blue
Broad Bodied Chaser
Hoverfly - male Merodon equestris
Hoverfly - female Syrphus sp
Hoverfly - male Chrysotoxum cautum
Hoverfly - female Syrphus ribesii
Ashy Mining Bee - female Andrena cineraria
Hoverfly - female Myathropa florea (a very dark one)
Thursday 23rd May
Much the same as yesterday, amazingly two tufted ducks were there again and again they flew off within minutes of my arrival.
The third GC Grebe had gone, all quiet everywhere else.
Heron is here there and everywhere at the moment!
Couple of Swallows skimming over Captain's early on.
Male Merodon equestris
Male Merodon equestris.
Male Leucozona lucorum
Female Cheilosa pagana
Wednesday 22nd May
Very nice but blustery day, quiet again round the reserves and the fields, did see a Kestrel drop down into the cornfield, also a couple of buzzards above the Dead Man's Allotment.
An extra GC Grebe was also present on Captain's, I watched for an hour whilst the resident male did his best to get rid of him/her.
Late evening all three were still present, hope both chicks are okay as I could only see one.
Two tufted ducks were present early on but flew off within minutes of me arriving.
An extra GC Grebe was also present on Captain's, I watched for an hour whilst the resident male did his best to get rid of him/her.
Late evening all three were still present, hope both chicks are okay as I could only see one.
Two tufted ducks were present early on but flew off within minutes of me arriving.
Tufted Ducks
Female Myathropa florea
