Watching dragonflies and damselflies colonise Beckingham's ditches and scrapes has been one of the highlights of the project over the last four years. Another species was added to the list last year in the shape of Hairy Dragonfly and one was seen again a few weeks ago.
Whilst on the reserve in the middle of the month, I was delighted to add Red-eyed Damselfly to the site list and if that wasn't enough, Banded Demoiselle only a few days later. Other insects ‘on the wing’ in June have included Silver Y and Yellow Shell day-flying moths.
On Wednesday 18th June, the RSPB’s Land Management Training department ran an Introduction to Wet Grassland course, alongside the site staff. The fifteen candidates spent the morning in The Willow Works, learning about wet grassland creation and management and then had a tour around the reserve in the afternoon.
Twenty-six children from Misterton Primary School visited us on the same day and spent their time ‘bug hunting’ on the nature reserve and pond dipping in the Willow Works’ community garden. They also managed a quick trip indoors to look at the pair of barn owls that are breeding in The Willow Works again.
The productive pair successfully reared three chicks late last autumn and now have four more well developed young.