Anything that has been spotted on the nature reserve
Posted by Ian Swans and cygnets were on the move this morning with the little one bring up the rear. They finally made it back to the long pond after spending the night on the fishing pond. Previous pairs have lost some or all of their cygnets moving them around the ponds as the stragglers […]
The swans are still doing very well and we were informed over the weekend that they had been seen on the path, and today we found them on a small pond further up the path from the long pond. The cob was enjoying a rest and lying on the grass and the pen was in […]
The orchids are starting to flower, later than usual and still not very many in the two fields which are overflowing with buttercups at the moment. There are a few beautiful Yellow Iris near the fishing pond, but unfortunately they don’t last very long. There were a family of Stonechats near gate 2 of the […]
Lots of birds have now fledged, a large family of Long-tailed tits were feeding off insects in the Willow trees, at least 12 in the group, managed a couple of shots ,and one with a young one being fed. Also a family of Swallows have fledged from a stable near to the old Walney Tavern, […]
Yesterday we spotted a nest in one of the willow trees adjoining the field but could not clearly see the occupant, and today there were three young Carrion crows peeping over the top, photo of two attached. When we arrived back at the cars Bob observed a movement in the ashes of one of the […]
The swans are doing fine on the long pond without the interference of the Canada geese, still seven cygnets, photo of family with Heron in background, cygnets probably a little too large. The fence around pond 35 was repaired last week, to prevent access to the cows, but it didn’t stop them cooling off in […]
We had another walk through the rough terrain where the Fritillary are normally found without success, it could be just the cold spell that is holding them up, we will keep on looking. There was unusual activity on the fishing pond this morning, a young Coot was lost and it seemed to think that it’s […]
With this warm spell there has been an explosion of insects, butterflies are emerging but no sign of the fritillary yet, young Damselflies are everywhere. We came across a very pale green one on Monday, it could be an Emerald or a White Legged, very difficult to tell as there are no markings, see photo. […]
Another Sunday and another Cuckoo this is the third Sunday in a row. We were talking to a couple near the seat and they had taken a photo of a Cuckoo with his phone through binoculars, they said it was behaving as a young one asking for food from passing Pippits. When we arrived in […]
Ian spotted a male Cuckoo calling yesterday, and late yesterday evening on the way to monitor the Natterjacks I also spotted one on the airfield fence but not calling, could be the same one or another female. At the feeders there were a family of Dunnocks we could here them calling but only saw the […]