Birds and Flowers

There was frost on the ground but the sun was shinning as the bird ringers put up the mist nets this morning.

The warmth during the day encouraged the bees to be active amongst the willow flowers.  Some Peacock butterflies were seen, whilst on the ponds Whirlygig Beetles were spinning around!  Frogspawn and toadspawn are now hatching and the adults no longer frequent the ponds.

Dog Violets are opening along the edges of the paths whilst in some of the more sheltered areas of the reserve Primrose and Wood Anemone grow in the same habitat but not often as close together as this.

The Blackthorn near the middle moor path is just beginning to flower and soon the lichen encrusted branches will be hidden from view.

Birds processed today included Reed Bunting, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff and Lesser Redpoll, but as yet no Willow Warblers.  Some well-developed brood patches were evident on the early-breeding females indicating that egg laying had started in earnest.