Author: Walney Wildlife

Tony has been keeping a watch on the Sparrowhawks nesting in the trees near Gillies pond, he has seen four chicks which were hatched about two weeks ago, see his photo of one. Bri

The new pair of swans hatched five cygnets at the weekend and all are doing fine, see pics. The damp weather brought out the Common Toadlets from the ponds, they are only about 6mm long and can easily be missed, the paths were littered with bodies. Bob and Bri

After trapping the Elephant Hawkmoth one night, the smaller species was caught the next, it’s slightly worn see the hair missing from the head. We also saw what appears to have been a newly emerged Brown Hawker, it was still finding it’s wings and does not have the full colours yet. Bob and Bri

Have been putting the moth trap in the garden for the last couple of nights and this warm spell is providing a good variation and one of the regulars is the Elephant Hawk moth, the shape and colour are so distinctive. Bri

The Yellow Bartsia grows in quite a few places on the reserve and times vary, but at the moment there are a few plants on the large island in the long pond, best accessed from the west side in good boots or wellies. At the same vicinity but on another island is one of a […]

There have been a few Linnets in the field, after the Chalet park, all season, and yesterday there was a male about to feed one of the three young on the fence, see photos. The Bee Orchids are now out on the old tip, it looks like a good season, found three areas there are […]

The two male Reed Warblers are singing every morning in diagonal opposite corners of the fishing pond and this morning a third appeared together with one in the corner nearest the old tip, probably it’s mate. The long horn moths are out and about, managed a shot of some under the feeder tray, see the […]

Last year they were disturbed and moved elsewhere but this year they are back nesting again in the trees behind Gillies pond, it looks like they have hatched and the photo shows her resting on the edge of the nest. Bri

This warm spell seems to have brought everything out from hiding, there are about a dozen Bee Orchids on the Airfield just inside the right of Gate 4, they were about to open, see photo, not had a good look around the tip yet. The Common Blue and Blue-tailed damselflies are now emerging. Lots of […]

Three young bullies have been visiting the feeders over the past week, nice to see a success hope there will be more. We were only talking the other day, after seeing the Cuckoo, there has been no sign of any furry caterpillars but yesterday we found a Drinker and today there was a 100mm long […]