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View from the bridge
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I am late reporting my visit on Thursday 22nd April because a Southern
Group work party at the reserve closely followed by a committee meeting have
been taking up my time. However, this report is "two for the price of one" as I
returned on Friday to check on paint brushes and rollers etc. ahead of the
work party. I was able to spend half an hour there before going on to another
commitment at 12 o'clock. Here is what I recorded on both days:
Thursday 22nd April
Birds:
SC210694 Chaffinch and Willow Warbler heard but not seen; sign of a kill probably by Sparrowhawk
SC209694 Willow Warbler; Mallard drake flying out of reserve; pair of
Mallard on water; Moorhen.
SC208694 Willow Warbler x 2 one of which another bird watcher on the
reserve described as an Eric Morecambe bird - "all the right notes but not
necessarily in the right order"! Not heard again since. Chiffchaff heard
but not seen; Great Tit; male Blackbird collecting worms.
SC209695 Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Robin;
SC208695 Great Tit; Chaffinch;
Other:
SC208695 female Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly on bramble and male Syrphus fly on Daffodils
SC208694 another female Eristalis pertinax on the path and Platycheirus albimanus fly on
daisy.
SC208695 7-spot Ladybird on Hogweed
SC210694 2 x 7-spot Ladybird on nettles
SC209694 2 x Gorse Shieldbug
SC208694 Stitchwort in flower
SC210694 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly; Speckled Wood Butterfly.
SC209693 Bird Cherry in flower here and elsewhere.
SC208694 Marsh Marigolds in full flower
It was good to see a small group of children and their teachers from Rushen
Primary School exploring the reserve. My thanks to one little boy for finding a
Ladybird which I had failed to see! Thanks also due to Committee
Secretary, Janet, for the splendid notice by the log pile.
Unfortunately, some sad person had not only defied the "no dogs notice" ( at the worst possible time of year when birds are nesting) but also discarded their dog poo bag near the barrows. Not my favourite job disposing of that, especially as I don't have dog of my own!
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our growing log pile and an explanation of what it is for
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Mallard drake just leaving Reserve
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off it goes
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but there was a pair on the pond - alert to danger from above
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the Moorhen was feeding in the weed
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closer view
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Willow Warbler. There were several on the Reserve
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| Chaffinch |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Robin |
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"the Eric Morecambe" Willow Warbler!
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usual view but notice the Blackbird
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he obviously has a family to feed at present
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obviously lots of worms to be had from our damp meadow
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Marsh Marigolds ( Kingcups) in the background
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listening intently for worms
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another Willow Warbler - the sound of summer
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very little water in the stream but lush vegetation
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daffodils mostly over now
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but Stitchwort flowering
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spot the stream!
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Gorse Shieldbug
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7-spot Ladybird on Hogweed
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one of two 7-spot ladybirds near the gate
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Platycheirus albimanus fly on lawn daisy
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female Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly
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male Syrphus species Hoverfly
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two spiders - they met briefly and the one on the right beat a hasty retreat
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close-up of the left hand spider
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another Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly ( female)
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Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
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This Willow Warbler was feeding in the Rowan tree
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it was very acrobatic
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finding lots of insects
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a bit of a stretch sometimes
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I was standing right beneath the tree
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not the conventional view of a Willow Warbler!
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my thanks to Karen Griffiths for identifying this as a Bird Cherry
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Marsh Marigolds ( Kingcups)
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Friday 23rd April
Birds:
SC209694 Dunnock; Willow Warbler; Chaffinch; male Blackcap; Blue Tit; Robin.
2 x Mallard; Moorhen;
SC208694 Wren
SC210694 2 x Goldfinch
Other:
SC210694 Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Orangetip butterflies
SC209693 Male Syrphus species Hoverfly on dandelion
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Willow Warbler
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Robin in full voice
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| Moorhen |
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handsome male Chaffinch
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Dandelions are full of nectar for insects - here a male Syrphus species
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Mallards in the Brooklime
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My next post will be Saturday's Work Party.
Please click on photos to enlarge them ( with thanks to Steve Crellin for fly identification)
