Last night I went for a walk around the reserve after work and there was still enough warmth in the air to give me good views of various insects that were still on the wing. Butterflies had been great during the day with Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tort, Small White, Brimstone and the first Speckled Woods and Orange Tips of the year.
A few Peacocks were still out basking and I also saw a couple of Brimstones but I will need another warm day to see the others...
The still sunlit ramparts of the Cordite Store were being used as a landing strip by many lazy Bluebottle Jump Jets and Vulcan Bomber Bee Flies with their long drinking straws that remind me of those mid-air refuelling hoses.
The Barn Owl was sitting briefly outside its box and Cetti's Warblers were very vocal all around the trail. At least five Grass Snakes were seen during the day but I could not find any on my circuit.
Mrs Swan was carefully turning her eggs in the nest by the Dragonfly Pool. I reckon that she has at least five but possibly more.
Little Egrets started to head off to roost in Warren Gorge as the sun set and the temperature dropped and I looked in vain for newly arrived Wheatears on the Ouzel Fields amongst the constant song of our Skylarks.
A much needed stroll and a wonderful soft sunset to round things off nicely...
2-4-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer