Around the Reserve

It is amazing what a little bit of warm weather can do.  It just seems a few days ago that we were all walking around with coats and scarves, hats and gloves.  Yesterday it was shirt sleeves and t shirts.  There were plenty of Large Red Damselflies around and sometimes a blue streak flew past, but not allowing for any identification other than it was a blue damsel.

Walking near Plover's pool a slight movement caught my eye and I realised that it was the first of the chasers to leave its larval case to become a flying insect.  The exuvia can be seen underneath the adult.

Across the wildflower meadow there are plenty of Yellow Rattle leaves and one or two flowers.

Whilst some flowers are opening their buds the willow trees are just beginning to release their tiny seeds.  Soon the reserve will be covered in a white fluffy carpet.

Their are a few moths around and this Brimstone moth was found on the Field Centre.  Moths that sit with their wings flat tend to be a bit more flighty than those that sit with their wings closed.  Although the background is not a very good one it was better to get a photograph then none at all.

The bird ringers have been out and about checking small bird boxes.  There have been a range of results, from adults still on eggs to some chicks that have just hatched to those that are near fledging.  'Our' Blue Tit on camera now has several chicks.  The male is bringing in food and appears to be giving it to the female who then feeds the tiny chicks.