Now, I know that it looks like I am always on holiday but this is not the case! Just escaped for a short break to the glorious sunny climes of Cornwall and Devon. Anyway, back now. I have come back to a reserve filled with the sounds of baby birds with Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge and Reed Warblers off the nest and begging for food while tits are starting to club together and the roving flocks now contain many young Blue, Great and Long tailed as well as Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.
Blackcap with food (Brenda Clayton)
Chiffchaff also with a beak full! (Brenda Clayton)
A cute baby Blue Tit... just look at those blue legs! (Brenda Clayton)
Out on the marsh hundreds of Starlings have been clubbing together in an effort to look for tasty leatherjackets in the ground. The sound is fantastic as nearly every bird out there is a noisy juvenile.
A magical murmuration (Brenda Clayton)
Plenty of insect life around including a flurry of Cream Spot Tiger and similarly pied Magpie Moths along the river wall while the first Ruddy Darters are now out and about along with smart Black-tailed Skimmers.
Magpie Moth (Brenda Clayton)
And do not forget that the second Insect Afternoon is coming up this Saturday at 1pm and that we have a Dragonfly and Damselfly Walks on Sunday June 19 and Saturday July 30.
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer