Hive of Activity

Where to start?  Volunteers from the Swaledale Ringing Group have been checking the owl boxes at Foxglove and out on the training area.  The results from this work not only go to the BTO but also the Hawk and Owl Trust. 

Usually it is the ringers who can spy on the nest boxes with a camera on a stick, to save disturbing the nest if the chicks are too small to ring, but in this case it was the other way around!

They did catch one adult Tawny Owl, details of whether it was ringed and where have not come through to me yet.  Surprisingly they can nest in the same box year after year.  Even the young once fledged, do not stray too far, just away from their parents territory, and often nest near to the nest box where they were hatched.

Meawhile back at Foxglove volunteers were carrying out some repairs on the boardwalk.

The moth traps had been set and volunteers had identified the moths but the catches are still low.

Flowers are slowly opening and I spotted a Cuckoo Flower in the Scrapes.

Not many insects were out and about although St Mark's Fly was on the moor.  This insect was seen in a Marsh Marigold flower.  You can see that it is covered in pollen.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who have supported Foxglove, as always your help is very much appreciated.