Rain again!

Driving around the Parade Square, just before 04.00, the car was stopped, hazard warning lights on, and this prickly Hedgehog was ushered off the road!

Into the reserve and along the access road a few minutes later, another sighting of a Hedgehog - the same one had found its way under the fence!   Hedgehogs have been recorded on the species list but are rarely seen.  Another sighting today was of a Roe Deer with two young kids at her heels.

Midges made their presence felt in a big way as they attacked the ringers, not only whilst the nets were going up early this morning, but during the afternoon too!  The reserve is about the wettest it has ever been and large areas of water are lying everywhere.  The becks are in full spate and the full force of the recent endless rain has dislodged some very large boulders.

Ferns enjoy dampness and in an area cleared by the volunteers during the winter, they are doing extremely well.  Some of these ferns will be quite old.

Northern Marsh Orchids are braving the rain and are flowering along the path edges.

The weather forecast had said no rain today, but it rained for over an hour during the late morning.  Nets had to be checked constantly.  It was concerning that so few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs were caught and it may be that they have suffered due to the bad weather and the large concentrations of water on the ground.  However it was good to see that some of the Great Tit chicks ringed in the nest boxes had fledged.  169 birds of 20 species were processed including the first juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Greenfinches.  Thanks are due to all in the ringing team for their patience and forbearance in some unpleasant weather conditions.