In recent weeks regular walkers on our Thursday wildlife walk, have been treated to summer like weather and excellent wildlife. Starting at 10.30 am each Thursday and lasting two hours, the walk is FREE, just come along to our visitor centre and take part. John Ainsworth is one of our regular walkers and has kindly shared the images below which he took during recent Thursday walks.
In recent weeks a number of common buzzards have been sighted over the park. The one above soared over the Thursday walkers and drifted off over Bowers Marsh.
Brimstone butterflies are often one of the first to be seen in Spring. A medium-large butterfly with leaf-shaped wings. Always rest with wings closed. Males have yellow-green underwings and yellow upperwings. Females have pale yellow-green wings, looking almost white in flight. The one above was seen two weeks ago.
There have been upto five spotted redshanks overwintering in the creek at Wat Tyler. This is notable for a relatively scarce overwintering species. In winter they have a grey back, and paler under parts, with a more prominent eye stripe than a redshank and lacking a redshank's white wing bars.
What a cracking image of a wren singing his little heart out.
From the scrape hide, the cleared area of reedbed in front of the hide has proved popular with both wildlife and wildlife watchers. The images of grey heron and drake pochard below can been seen clearly and close. Other species seen here have been water rail, bearded tit and cetti's warbler.
Great pics its great when the sun shines