Plenty to See!
Monday, June 4th 2012
Yesterday Brian and Elizabeth attended the talk about dragonflies and damselflies. Today they tried to put some of what they had learnt into practice. Looking around the water's edge and on plants close by, it was amazing how many damselflies were observed, sheltering from the cold, damp weather!
As we only have Large Red Damselflies recorded on site their identification was easy! This one was perched on a Gorse bush.
The next step was to find some of the blue damselflies and for identification purposes take a good photograph of the end of their abdomen. A really easy task? Well the idea was a good one, but everytime the camera got close, those huge eyes spotted it and around the stem the damselfly moved, so many blurred images! Back to the drawing board! With no positive identification the photograph below shows one of the blue damselflies.
Although it was cold and wet many invertebrates were recorded hiding amongst the plants, including soldier beetles, Alderfly, spiders, 7 Spot Ladybirds, Kidney Spot Ladybirds, Crane Fly, Caddis fly, sawfly larvae and an ant! Slugs were thoroughly enjoying the dampness. Gravel paths and Gorse prickles did not appear to give them any concern!
Whilst hunting for the invertebrate life of Foxglove, the flowers could not be missed. On the moor, Buttercups are open and this one was sporting several rain drops!
Bird's Foot Trefoil can also be seen on the moor.
Elder was in leaf early in the year but it is only now beginning to flower.
At long last the Wild Garlic has burst its buds and is making a beautiful show along Risedale Beck.
Swallows and House Martins were seen flying low over the ponds on the wetland. A Nuthatch was spotted on the feeders in the back garden. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard, along with Garden Warblers and Chaffinch.
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CLOSURE: Monday 22nd April 2024
Wednesday 17th April 2024 |
Due to an important event occuring on the camp, Foxglove Covert LNR will be closed for one day only on Moday 22nd April.
The reserve will resume usual opening hours on Tuesday 23rd April.
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Monday 18th March 2024 |
The reserve is now open, although again with limited access.
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Please be aware that due to these circumstances, entering and leaving the reserve might take a little longer than usual.
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