I'm reliably informed there is a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at RSPB Cliffe Pools on the corner of Radar Pool, today.

A couple of days ago I could hear a lot of squeaking and scratching from one of the Bat Boxes on the corner of the brick barn at RSPB Northward Hill. Looking up at the narrow slit entrance it could only be bats as no bird could possibly get in there.

Last night I went up there at quarter to eight with my 6 years old Grandaughter to sit up on them as she's always wanted to see one.

At eight thirty the first one appeared…

Yesterday I reported on the Cattle Egrets teaching Little Egrets to follow the cattle to feed amongst them are they kicked up insects. Talking to Frank Cackett it seems the black billed 'Little Egrets' are in fact juvenile Cattle Egrets, their bills turn yellow as they mature. So today there were 5 juveniles amongst the adults proving they are breeding on the reserve, most likely with their cousins in the sanctuary.…

When we had an RSPB Walk some days ago, I said we would see the Egrets as long as the Cattle were close up and not miles out on the marsh, in the end we did see them, but only distantly as that was where the cattle were.

Today they were right close up to the Marsh Gate and I could see six Egrets flitting amongst the cows legs after insects. Closer inspection revealed three were the now resident Cattle Egrets and the other…

I have to say I never tire of the sight of Goldfinches and their tinkling song, they are singing from the Silver Birch in my postage stamp garden as I write.

Today my daily sojourn to RSPB Northward Hill had to wait until after 6pm. As usual there was always a pleasant surprise on the drive in. A Buzzard sitting atop a telegraph pole hoping for an easy meal of an unwary young rabbit or roadkill at the behest of a visiting…

Butterflies were re-emerging in the sunlight at Northward Hill, a Small Skipper by the farmhouse, a Ringlet in the car-park and a Small Heath a little further on.

A few Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells bathed in the sunshine. The highlight of the weekend would be White letter Hairstreaks seen by Joanne Fegan who has kindly allowed me to publish her image, usually they are confined to specific Elm trees in the sanctuary…

I feel I have lost an old friend, the huge Walnut Tree that has dominated the overflow car-park finally gave up the ghost last night and crashed to the ground. It was the first thing I looked to as driving down into the reserve. So many memories, my last sighting of a Turtle Dove within its' lofty boughs three years ago, the squirells raising their kits in a hole. The fabulous Tawny Owls in the Owl box and Jackdaws in…

This one is Poecilobothrus nobilitatus or Semaphore Fly, one of the most studied flies mainly because of its' size and easily identifiable sexing.

By the way for those of you who are wondering where I've suddenly acquired this expertise from, I get a good photo and upload it onto UK Diptera Facebook and a 'proper expert' with tell me almost instantly what it is and from there I can google it to find out a few snippets…

This on a pretty dull and grey morning at RSPB Northward Hill, The Cuckoos x 2 were extremely vocal and the lone Nightingale singing up to a few days ago (on the way to Ernie Hemsley Viewpoint) has finally stopped singing. Plenty of Whitethroats were vocalising in the scrub and the highlight of the day was seeing a pair of Nightingales in the appropriately named Nightingale Tree, so-called because you could almost guarantee…

This is Rhagio tringarius.

Oedemera nobilis, also known as the false oil beetle, thick-legged flower beetle or swollen-thighed beetle, is a beetle in the family Oedemeridae, a common species in Western Europe, including the south of England.

This one is new to me Cantharis rustica, a species of Soldier Beetle.

Seeing the old porta-cabin style office in a skip makes this weekend fairly unique for starters. Then the spectacle of a Collared Pratincole at RSPB Cliffe Pools adds to the uniqueness of this last few of days of May, the truly 'summer is round the corner month'. As the song goes,' June is busting out all over' and with luck we will find out on Tuesday.

The weather has been better over the weekend, but…

As requested my thanks to Shane Vale for these great images of the CP. Still showing well today!

Today, getting towards the end of the real Spring Month of May, the weeks of the Maypole, Black and Hawthorn blossom, the month of the fabulous Nightingale and the iconic Cuckoo, these two embrace the very essence of the coming summer. They sing of the time when they will find a partner and nest, in fact that is why they vocalise to find a mate.

Nightingales are still shouting out for a mate as are the cuckoos at Northward…

Red campion, Silene dioica.

Oxeye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare.

Cornflower, Centaura cyanus.

Common hawthorn, Crataegus punctata.

Dog-rose, Rosa canina.

So here are two spiders who were eying each other up on the south-facing wall of the brick barn at Northward Hill this afternoon. One appropriately is Salticus scenicus (Zjs) not sure was his adversary/attacker/next meal is, but I'm sure Facebook Uk spiders will let me know in due course.

Last night was the second and probably last Nightingale Walk of the year. On Monday at Cliffe Polls we unfortunately hadn't heard one at all even though there are 10 singing males this year, so I was understanably nervous about last night. It had rained on and off most of the day and I even had thoughts of cancellation.

At 6.00 it started to rain as I made my way to Northward Hill, which again didn't bode well, so…