tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76744828902905109202024-03-05T04:02:21.007+00:00WWA Sightings BlogAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-20461367212833805492010-12-16T19:41:00.003+00:002010-12-16T19:45:32.317+00:00New WWA websiteThe WWA have a brand new all-singing and dancing website which incorporates a blog, so from now on that will take over from this sightings blog<div>The new site is at <a href="http://www.watercresslnr.org.uk/">http://www.watercresslnr.org.uk/</a> so update your bookmarks. It incorporates all of the posts from this sightings blog and all new posts will be made on that new site.</div>Sam Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557722130284466658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-28174587560705325532010-11-06T19:20:00.003+00:002010-11-06T19:31:10.845+00:00<div><div><div>Saturday 6th November.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNDiNDy-d2zbp3_mSzTBCoGIv86hKjuyZ9y0fp2J0G7a7JZBORIY2GrEMHNXUxPXJItj5psBk_QkRQ5YM_GgzlZSu5jbeRHC9xpZ6I4Trm6Xi5vwzBHylya-lvzaE1VEZIS6VUPYmHkE/s1600/parakeet3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 260px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536520181060515570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNDiNDy-d2zbp3_mSzTBCoGIv86hKjuyZ9y0fp2J0G7a7JZBORIY2GrEMHNXUxPXJItj5psBk_QkRQ5YM_GgzlZSu5jbeRHC9xpZ6I4Trm6Xi5vwzBHylya-lvzaE1VEZIS6VUPYmHkE/s320/parakeet3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2qYrFpIJa92vRlNdoUsY7cLMtHsZiINQUFMlKMfjgBcak6sidwlpUbyATyzfsuaptTZ9ZjZTHZAtYDPIyRQQv6_CL0RHTemAVjvSfizpdcmWjOTTlIm85knfJu68KSCgfPQ_P3TdbAk/s1600/parakeet2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536520182229277522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2qYrFpIJa92vRlNdoUsY7cLMtHsZiINQUFMlKMfjgBcak6sidwlpUbyATyzfsuaptTZ9ZjZTHZAtYDPIyRQQv6_CL0RHTemAVjvSfizpdcmWjOTTlIm85knfJu68KSCgfPQ_P3TdbAk/s320/parakeet2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>The usual peace and tranquillity broken by the frenzied squawk of a small group of parakeet!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaLAFcjVoTpU7Lv2JUleY20L5unMnN9PyT_WgXIlhC0pzoYzONfN2t-Endp7e1khStse1vpwArxsA4DyGEcIgWAmygqgEYco8M1OQ03_NkHHA11-Mekles7Q6yrYEwIwCpH-YTe4kJ04/s1600/parakeet1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 174px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536520175479146674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaLAFcjVoTpU7Lv2JUleY20L5unMnN9PyT_WgXIlhC0pzoYzONfN2t-Endp7e1khStse1vpwArxsA4DyGEcIgWAmygqgEYco8M1OQ03_NkHHA11-Mekles7Q6yrYEwIwCpH-YTe4kJ04/s320/parakeet1.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div> </div><div><br />Eventually seen off by equally vociferous magpie</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8bS3KKimEofmTBqzVDYxgak4vFiCO7qi_VNG72q7lOjZQZcGHBU99SZwHi8SGFFz5BmJ94vrP00zXHbAhpqNvqdyIAShZljVL6rBvxPvNbEG58-ZdKti3OEIyx14OqrVnk8PyDpvzrA/s1600/magpie.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 192px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536520183922313010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8bS3KKimEofmTBqzVDYxgak4vFiCO7qi_VNG72q7lOjZQZcGHBU99SZwHi8SGFFz5BmJ94vrP00zXHbAhpqNvqdyIAShZljVL6rBvxPvNbEG58-ZdKti3OEIyx14OqrVnk8PyDpvzrA/s320/magpie.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230441050902359319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-18797789563056465322010-11-06T18:37:00.006+00:002010-11-06T18:48:17.606+00:00interlopers!present on site today, some welcome, some not . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54UJHFZzWvCQ2PcJpXV4lmSMBzItAN9wKwPXC4bBKt8LAosjJifd75eJTx1TTYTZ4D2XiQLpz1DBuAWpN3WlpzH21LeePonNodtTwIyXCTt68ao2o4Gkr3GiMKdNFn21l1eVEc7nx1iY/s1600/DSC_1929edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54UJHFZzWvCQ2PcJpXV4lmSMBzItAN9wKwPXC4bBKt8LAosjJifd75eJTx1TTYTZ4D2XiQLpz1DBuAWpN3WlpzH21LeePonNodtTwIyXCTt68ao2o4Gkr3GiMKdNFn21l1eVEc7nx1iY/s400/DSC_1929edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536508054752653554" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />the pair of little grebes are back, I assume it's the same two. <br />Here's one of them, they are staying close together compared to previous seasons.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueIw9zcOPXJwc2A_pCUwiBiQNdXhKcV2tj7-LwWVbnlICgdUl8qEzsneh19hN8J2_jXLVKaOZ1ZDPCEV-C1DFEhbAnTGXbQDAtfFRXs2yXqgHxeH3cJOXD5ozZ8nHY_50wtT3E0I03K0/s1600/DSC_1996edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueIw9zcOPXJwc2A_pCUwiBiQNdXhKcV2tj7-LwWVbnlICgdUl8qEzsneh19hN8J2_jXLVKaOZ1ZDPCEV-C1DFEhbAnTGXbQDAtfFRXs2yXqgHxeH3cJOXD5ozZ8nHY_50wtT3E0I03K0/s400/DSC_1996edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536508158727405026" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />there were about 10 collared doves on the feeder today, nothing else got near while they mobbed the perches. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgIzbfEAb-zS9fjj4pbg2zFoRM8Y59OiUWLWL6r2-CCD0_7vhdI1KrlhdpSQ-E0WP_BpLXRezglWskoAGT4qrqtNg2ehCDh9SO-TTsgFMJ-8H313_0hRfyPYwowNXmUAQrMKpagtgs4M/s1600/DSC_2022edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgIzbfEAb-zS9fjj4pbg2zFoRM8Y59OiUWLWL6r2-CCD0_7vhdI1KrlhdpSQ-E0WP_BpLXRezglWskoAGT4qrqtNg2ehCDh9SO-TTsgFMJ-8H313_0hRfyPYwowNXmUAQrMKpagtgs4M/s400/DSC_2022edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536507910704641474" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />one of the four ring-necked parakeets seen today, if this lot get a hold in the area, things may never be the same!keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139296414813088746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-42131555275610976892010-09-17T19:18:00.005+01:002010-11-26T20:16:33.939+00:00Daubentons on the lake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPISB7qmn0MdGvOboYhIqoLmH8kZtTw6r7LHFpviMa4zSKgVXRnz-ddparjpH9eGbOPEGlesMM5ssL0irkwa9A4BOPUCo5_75H19coGJXYaFBgMTzd3XOREyIYOTKVLGBg76M4SRMogGv-/s1600/daub.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543198221403854114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPISB7qmn0MdGvOboYhIqoLmH8kZtTw6r7LHFpviMa4zSKgVXRnz-ddparjpH9eGbOPEGlesMM5ssL0irkwa9A4BOPUCo5_75H19coGJXYaFBgMTzd3XOREyIYOTKVLGBg76M4SRMogGv-/s320/daub.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><em>Last night we went on a 1.5 mile walk, organised by Herts Middlesex Bat Group, to learn more about the bats in the area using bat detectors. Our guide was bat expert Hazel Makepeace. Here is her description of the event</em>:<br />Managed to have a quick whizz through my recording from last night: on the walk down to the bridge on the reserve I’ve a recording of a Noctule, then the Daubentons (at least 4) from the bridge, which we also saw. (Also at the Sopwell Nunnery site there was a Serotine, and quite a few recordings of Common pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles throughout the walk).<br />An amazing evening, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a real treat to have heard and seen the daubentons on the lake. I have attached a picture of a Daubenton's bat which I took in August of this year </div><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.watercress-net.org.uk/sound/Daub_Alison.wav">The recording of a Daubenton is available as a WAV sound file here.</a></p>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-23716320078290810042010-09-09T21:17:00.001+01:002010-09-09T21:33:34.847+01:00The ‘butterfly bush’, notIt struck me this year in my weekly monitoring of butterflies that I didn't see more than an occasional butterfly at a time on buddleia (known as the ‘butterfly bush’) whereas last year I saw on at least 3 occasions more than 10 (comma, peacock, painted ladies, red admiral). It’s all been a bit disappointing this year apart from a flurry of gatekeepers and not on buddleia. Has anyone had a different experience with buddleias this year?Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-5647887544638242992010-09-07T18:21:00.002+01:002010-09-07T18:26:50.844+01:00A very pleasant pheasant<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GchYpZa6r0TG9gk1GPff_xH0qZp_xKdFo5Zf3F0Mj8N7ZpLXqViyyv30tzvqDVbyntUKCsMYdhbBW1Nb_ASePzEamNthHHK0TheLFaJyRWak-gKnMEEoLyRq5sddzmSJujh3V77bAeNF/s1600/DSCF0419.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514223476966136578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GchYpZa6r0TG9gk1GPff_xH0qZp_xKdFo5Zf3F0Mj8N7ZpLXqViyyv30tzvqDVbyntUKCsMYdhbBW1Nb_ASePzEamNthHHK0TheLFaJyRWak-gKnMEEoLyRq5sddzmSJujh3V77bAeNF/s320/DSCF0419.JPG" /></a><br /> What a handsome fellow!sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10629834440001978835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-10992858010701819742010-08-29T20:06:00.005+01:002010-08-29T20:23:34.247+01:00Sunday August 29thThe swans are back, chasing away allcomers. Even the heron....<br />.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-OaYaGi3bnIbDkU42TaggO9HcgPnxak-P6KG0BANLwOOgFC8EFfzYhiAaWse7ukiG-fpBqZqjq5AgNq2bFvBKwegdGZZYpqoDuUFJmcaoCBOTQYvm21xET7VOnKtiGjpJF1NuE_H2NY/s1600/theview.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 276px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510912944852223154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-OaYaGi3bnIbDkU42TaggO9HcgPnxak-P6KG0BANLwOOgFC8EFfzYhiAaWse7ukiG-fpBqZqjq5AgNq2bFvBKwegdGZZYpqoDuUFJmcaoCBOTQYvm21xET7VOnKtiGjpJF1NuE_H2NY/s320/theview.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DoQbtd5HVJVquyDKrP0obBpwfAtCsmOapvysnVqX9vYwFq1VoQjBPUS2QVmDhizvYEE2OeLAUA6ZhqeIY0zNsRVooN1bHPS9n-au9nFZtdN5tjSqRk7M2f2PcsGuY-JefhpHtXXKg2E/s1600/swanandheron.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510912938462570706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DoQbtd5HVJVquyDKrP0obBpwfAtCsmOapvysnVqX9vYwFq1VoQjBPUS2QVmDhizvYEE2OeLAUA6ZhqeIY0zNsRVooN1bHPS9n-au9nFZtdN5tjSqRk7M2f2PcsGuY-JefhpHtXXKg2E/s320/swanandheron.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwkxXrYS6FPjkcmW5sQHuhhZEqfJ4s9f2LgcWcMSj9mm8WCQcpKQvSgUnoFA21rWgX6lOwv1pWfcg0GtfpTS6mluD6BHbqVn83mV6yODWQ2lUv08Sk7yXQ-YloR0mhzroqlS5EpbENic/s1600/swans.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510912929613198610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwkxXrYS6FPjkcmW5sQHuhhZEqfJ4s9f2LgcWcMSj9mm8WCQcpKQvSgUnoFA21rWgX6lOwv1pWfcg0GtfpTS6mluD6BHbqVn83mV6yODWQ2lUv08Sk7yXQ-YloR0mhzroqlS5EpbENic/s320/swans.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>and the WWA are crowned Water Vole Champions by the Herts and Middx Wildlife Trust......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DZuWjC7XMQ4tKmT0V8HxjX_5HwKrGy5AJK6OlgII631SYQJ3qgC7byCDhme3KovUxAfR7s4p4CXitZZRqZ1xo3J3WeKvKbFqewlXMArH6CtcdD1n8Ojd0gxl_7eKsU-KYx_PWi_BCI4/s1600/volechamps.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510912071776243250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DZuWjC7XMQ4tKmT0V8HxjX_5HwKrGy5AJK6OlgII631SYQJ3qgC7byCDhme3KovUxAfR7s4p4CXitZZRqZ1xo3J3WeKvKbFqewlXMArH6CtcdD1n8Ojd0gxl_7eKsU-KYx_PWi_BCI4/s320/volechamps.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>but just where are they? Answers on a postcard please.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230441050902359319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-39580681591398456512010-08-25T20:04:00.003+01:002010-08-25T20:11:45.642+01:00No need to get wet!On this rainy day, I have been rewarded with a sighting on the reserve of a little grebe; a kingfisher; & two swans... all from the warmth & dryness of my kitchen. Magic!PatJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06098080287291152042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-50376708811515761972010-07-30T11:06:00.008+01:002010-07-30T11:46:39.924+01:002 sights for sore eyes<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWziVAYs_p9kF7VvfoH7gA8Ki9XbcGPxtAnnlysWWgEsfox5DIUEKpUEGd1NVbepQBsP0Zo_Qa4MKg_1kpxBhR7OoXGvc7j2nc3UnTBrEOyhc6ZYuNM1XdMIYXYIZY0zuCRv37Wt3ufE_/s1600/gatekeeper+group.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499641297389755730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWziVAYs_p9kF7VvfoH7gA8Ki9XbcGPxtAnnlysWWgEsfox5DIUEKpUEGd1NVbepQBsP0Zo_Qa4MKg_1kpxBhR7OoXGvc7j2nc3UnTBrEOyhc6ZYuNM1XdMIYXYIZY0zuCRv37Wt3ufE_/s320/gatekeeper+group.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Occasionally you see something that delights the ole spirit. In the last week, I saw 2. The first occasion was at midday during the week when I spotted a muntjac (my first) near the heap for grassnakes. Funny dog, I thought and the way it moved its tail was most odd. I know other members have seen one or even 2 before but they had always escaped me. I was amazed it had ventured so far into the reserve and think it's not only foxes which are becoming less fearful. My second impressive sight was a few days later,when I was doing my regular butterfly monitoring. I came across at least 10 gatekeepers, flying in a group but as you can see from the photo doing their own thing. (It was impossible to get all 10 in a photo as I had to get quite closeup for them to be visible.) It was also pretty impossible to count them, as you can probably imagine - worse than counting sheep! That day I also spotted the first water lily I've seen on the little pond and saw a little frog and heard another croaking away happily. The photo below was the best I could do without falling in ......</div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSI6GhpUUvGZN4E1jcrESdPlk-QtSUuvxeDf60UdJEDBeCAi1SFK5YQtfmhCcjl3zb3Tb9CN5fQonPW4H9-7LPYbPmfSVoOy_BWfKVXZZEP_rFkBUHQ0AoUobVL3dUc1HJEi7lMnI7AGW/s1600/waterlily.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499646695986593842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSI6GhpUUvGZN4E1jcrESdPlk-QtSUuvxeDf60UdJEDBeCAi1SFK5YQtfmhCcjl3zb3Tb9CN5fQonPW4H9-7LPYbPmfSVoOy_BWfKVXZZEP_rFkBUHQ0AoUobVL3dUc1HJEi7lMnI7AGW/s320/waterlily.jpg" border="0" /></a>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-43631779232054584622010-06-24T21:31:00.018+01:002010-06-26T12:34:38.846+01:00yet more damselfies25.06.2010<br /><br />while attempting to photograph these little creatures,<br />I became a little sidetracked by the banded demoiselles.<br /><br />When perched on a leaf they obviously present a pretty picture.<br />In flight their wings seemed to act like helicopter rotors.<br /><br />That was it, I had to capture one in flight. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7LthcedlmsSkG2_kIY1V0DDghy9xhbxdk_ZG2Nh6PCxUOLWk9zLAgiDTnfqaqyVGRycbu7rI38DR9EA-tMrKHrYdDEqXTLvXz1vUyCAl6p4oswzBB8hrM920ak4UejCu3id2EixfRUY/s1600/DSC_6783edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7LthcedlmsSkG2_kIY1V0DDghy9xhbxdk_ZG2Nh6PCxUOLWk9zLAgiDTnfqaqyVGRycbu7rI38DR9EA-tMrKHrYdDEqXTLvXz1vUyCAl6p4oswzBB8hrM920ak4UejCu3id2EixfRUY/s400/DSC_6783edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487034793766359586" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />here's one at rest<br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5suiY8UU9ofDbPOISI9G3NBJrLtWKR7ZfzYnznOZke-w_E8s9KAvIlTvFvWecCQBE7y-WEXuBtUcSQo-m0RNZsrNpBVyinwWePpZKZ7B-x9lBqCXuPCUhwTz_0ZQEQKyS0c61Sso2r0/s1600/DSC_9049edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5suiY8UU9ofDbPOISI9G3NBJrLtWKR7ZfzYnznOZke-w_E8s9KAvIlTvFvWecCQBE7y-WEXuBtUcSQo-m0RNZsrNpBVyinwWePpZKZ7B-x9lBqCXuPCUhwTz_0ZQEQKyS0c61Sso2r0/s400/DSC_9049edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487028885411891394" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />in flight, look at the helicopter wings!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXnJ_vJRcYAbllK2DbodoR8_92im7uYdqoMKyjDpf_3rkd4HaVJK5gfYP3O-bk5pe-UPljvMLuIANMbW8QglxvypEjT1RUZ6c7Z64mr9Bmv1_bR0feTV97VsnBBUR9Mba6dOOknYPSbs/s1600/DSC_8048edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXnJ_vJRcYAbllK2DbodoR8_92im7uYdqoMKyjDpf_3rkd4HaVJK5gfYP3O-bk5pe-UPljvMLuIANMbW8QglxvypEjT1RUZ6c7Z64mr9Bmv1_bR0feTV97VsnBBUR9Mba6dOOknYPSbs/s400/DSC_8048edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487037092723821858" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />here, we have a female banded demoiselle.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ8NgJ4O76gQjH-zkE22a3Bu7fVdgKkse18beTM7IU8hJ-Qn-TRRbVMLPFlZC1iVxpwVTKSyuEyAwURet2L_UsSkm037oEn3ObfQVHO9nonEzXeeD3WUiEyuMDJs-lDFnrfYHKfjso2U/s1600/DSC_7004edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ8NgJ4O76gQjH-zkE22a3Bu7fVdgKkse18beTM7IU8hJ-Qn-TRRbVMLPFlZC1iVxpwVTKSyuEyAwURet2L_UsSkm037oEn3ObfQVHO9nonEzXeeD3WUiEyuMDJs-lDFnrfYHKfjso2U/s400/DSC_7004edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487036264776758818" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />another variation, here I think we have a ruddy darter.<br />My trusty nature book leads me to this identification -see bottom of posting.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjgpxrbersG4aKK7HcdDExCMQXQOgNvZ2uB8k7uYkX1qgyDr18_rzPOTfa9iuIY5b_DRYqC2CB0BvKpvSEf-8cvH7p5ST_Vw4n1na4jbEsPOqsGpxIDqtJA05OM5ox3KZkCE9dM-aZU8/s1600/DSC_8920edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjgpxrbersG4aKK7HcdDExCMQXQOgNvZ2uB8k7uYkX1qgyDr18_rzPOTfa9iuIY5b_DRYqC2CB0BvKpvSEf-8cvH7p5ST_Vw4n1na4jbEsPOqsGpxIDqtJA05OM5ox3KZkCE9dM-aZU8/s400/DSC_8920edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487038866372782434" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />this is a mystery bug, anyone got any ideas?<br />There are so many minute creatures whizzing about and they all seen to be tiny, <br />fast and hard to capture, with a camera, a net may be more successful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UfNaKboy9s1Q5monBAiZ8rLIawOum2yEOfoBqh7agqxVFoU-kFFQzeYd5dQ19EueWA02OpYHySbajTPwiO3ocw0MkINqCxn51NWX41iMCUAGKkTHToYPT3MhzGWvfoUZVfHJsn6OGTQ/s1600/DSC_8912edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UfNaKboy9s1Q5monBAiZ8rLIawOum2yEOfoBqh7agqxVFoU-kFFQzeYd5dQ19EueWA02OpYHySbajTPwiO3ocw0MkINqCxn51NWX41iMCUAGKkTHToYPT3MhzGWvfoUZVfHJsn6OGTQ/s400/DSC_8912edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487041745361276866" /></a> <br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />here's another, sitting on a lily pad -not found it in my book, yet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />my trusty book by the way: the Collins Complete British Wildlife by Paul Sterry.<br />It's really useful as identifying photographs convey exactly what one sees in the field.<br />I found one cheap in a garden centre last year. Have a look for it.keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139296414813088746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-66488292375473159872010-06-20T19:23:00.005+01:002010-06-20T19:38:54.270+01:00Butterfly beds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqtwn08YrwTrzS67oNEvxrJ4sPxFGCPRpSb3nWpj_DYNWiVQUL43c-ISGWuo6gd40pZGHmuCQzOd_laJngoIRjoFNyd6ZAnY30Dlx1ZWJZRd0Il2RYFICDgyXJjG_uerLMHyvdn0MajM7/s1600/butterflygarden3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484926170929377442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqtwn08YrwTrzS67oNEvxrJ4sPxFGCPRpSb3nWpj_DYNWiVQUL43c-ISGWuo6gd40pZGHmuCQzOd_laJngoIRjoFNyd6ZAnY30Dlx1ZWJZRd0Il2RYFICDgyXJjG_uerLMHyvdn0MajM7/s320/butterflygarden3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziibmdDlTaJfZf3jZhPbbB9dqK0_ryLcQd4kisC1CVxOsL94D-vqigXdKlEiPD5xQ74Qp_diSmoXVOIaEiZA0nfqKoRVCHXeKpxfV812HWab3qnR6yardOFPy7xlU4jMWRoLCXgMocLTk/s1600/butterflygarden2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484925817182323426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziibmdDlTaJfZf3jZhPbbB9dqK0_ryLcQd4kisC1CVxOsL94D-vqigXdKlEiPD5xQ74Qp_diSmoXVOIaEiZA0nfqKoRVCHXeKpxfV812HWab3qnR6yardOFPy7xlU4jMWRoLCXgMocLTk/s320/butterflygarden2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrKCJj3O2pVOpybT_tLNVLvYXi8J3Um53IyCjty_UqLIUwgojp5XfrUDOVYFqkxbe4mTRAH9vPoUKXG-dmKDtVVF7lCOOBFv__yyjy0DWchok39MuqwuTYhcNrPsbjxYlNvKvpbmbnT45/s1600/butterflygarden1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484924834786931106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrKCJj3O2pVOpybT_tLNVLvYXi8J3Um53IyCjty_UqLIUwgojp5XfrUDOVYFqkxbe4mTRAH9vPoUKXG-dmKDtVVF7lCOOBFv__yyjy0DWchok39MuqwuTYhcNrPsbjxYlNvKvpbmbnT45/s320/butterflygarden1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The butterfly beds are beginning to look good but where are the butterflies?<br />This summer I've seen orange tipped, small white, comma, peacock, speckled wood and common blue - but only a few each time I visit the site and none todayAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-59718342882962233452010-06-19T10:07:00.003+01:002010-06-19T18:59:34.479+01:00more damselfies17.06.2010<br /><br />by coincidence I was on site Thursday morning and also happened upon the damselflies<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhA2bKXm_M_mBSgc9LdSuErN1Ver9twPo72ufhm9hVxygoDRacL4ClJMY2eNgdj3dhyi7JeuilArkjjyb6pgLuQaGK5TJLWMjVS8RUZk87onTXAn0qVdBKH7TfIFXjgUqwdTPASR8b_U/s1600/commonbluedf.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhA2bKXm_M_mBSgc9LdSuErN1Ver9twPo72ufhm9hVxygoDRacL4ClJMY2eNgdj3dhyi7JeuilArkjjyb6pgLuQaGK5TJLWMjVS8RUZk87onTXAn0qVdBKH7TfIFXjgUqwdTPASR8b_U/s400/commonbluedf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484420734179862130" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />the rather disappointingly named common blue damselfy.<br />Most of the time, I have no idea what I've seen until I get home,<br />view the photograph, then refer to my ever-to-hand nature guide book.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oV6oEJea5w0eRy6CaZNqw346N9-w8QM7ruPt_I0SepwJTtpNeMn9eKr1HYsttDOcvduxKCNj7sIBZoaw9oReXDm3eyrhTVBYVEPV8XiMAdmnXGfh4I77XPe9_hcQ6tWY1WgLmT92p2I/s1600/bluetaileddf.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oV6oEJea5w0eRy6CaZNqw346N9-w8QM7ruPt_I0SepwJTtpNeMn9eKr1HYsttDOcvduxKCNj7sIBZoaw9oReXDm3eyrhTVBYVEPV8XiMAdmnXGfh4I77XPe9_hcQ6tWY1WgLmT92p2I/s400/bluetaileddf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484420184044428322" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />a blue-tailed damselfy, according to the book.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6WKxgsSTw0nZKa6CmHURIgPn_zkirDL1bwJkZGAk8AeYHu7xQTRR9oe4gZSnEAg6sE4TORQntmAMB7HmVGMTBRV3OE94OZwDct9DwRpO9UVOcrhkvlawE_TCr1WOmRpL-1hsaQr-vcU/s1600/greattit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6WKxgsSTw0nZKa6CmHURIgPn_zkirDL1bwJkZGAk8AeYHu7xQTRR9oe4gZSnEAg6sE4TORQntmAMB7HmVGMTBRV3OE94OZwDct9DwRpO9UVOcrhkvlawE_TCr1WOmRpL-1hsaQr-vcU/s400/greattit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484419565465840962" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />look closely, this great tit has got his prized sunflower heart.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0E6Us3L_Wb07gUc_hWuGKElfnlknnU_MQ_MAMIHYTpb4PJJiXHjFt2nQOt_p5Zj_PTN8ubbrJG-mz_o6qySujKD9URFEqY-v7geb957mcIzkn61tq-jPkYOp32fK3-GTBpVZ3mPyttM/s1600/bullfinch09.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0E6Us3L_Wb07gUc_hWuGKElfnlknnU_MQ_MAMIHYTpb4PJJiXHjFt2nQOt_p5Zj_PTN8ubbrJG-mz_o6qySujKD9URFEqY-v7geb957mcIzkn61tq-jPkYOp32fK3-GTBpVZ3mPyttM/s400/bullfinch09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484416958381696242" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />in a conventional pose, the ever wonderful bullfinch.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENL0cu_T-p4mq3rtJ9BgnihrlAkbHSWjS2dSQs6qn9Ji6KSLdp3b_mwUmGPb21Ybpne3Nf6bFCDskabG_H1PvAVzsB-QtzlsYDUbG18p1pFP9KvXd6yzVD4iBUP63YQC3LvfS9mEJk8o/s1600/bullfinch10.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENL0cu_T-p4mq3rtJ9BgnihrlAkbHSWjS2dSQs6qn9Ji6KSLdp3b_mwUmGPb21Ybpne3Nf6bFCDskabG_H1PvAVzsB-QtzlsYDUbG18p1pFP9KvXd6yzVD4iBUP63YQC3LvfS9mEJk8o/s400/bullfinch10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484419050584856578" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />the hovering bullfinch!<br />I was lucky with this one, the colour's a bit off, but I enjoyed the moment.keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139296414813088746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-54120100161028344432010-06-17T23:16:00.005+01:002010-06-17T23:22:10.228+01:00Banded demoiselle damselfly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe63bwNSy3h6nFdRVSfeaaLest0UnNGnVsQnJ-VKAh-7FUqzxSITp7P6oFaaYMuiWvsPYxyF0lH6oVhxoHAfkYQiYnPDQcJmkw9TrRwnPLe96g3RvFvtJq0F4fO1t-zIEu0Yu8FL9QXE/s1600/BandedDemoiselleFemale.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe63bwNSy3h6nFdRVSfeaaLest0UnNGnVsQnJ-VKAh-7FUqzxSITp7P6oFaaYMuiWvsPYxyF0lH6oVhxoHAfkYQiYnPDQcJmkw9TrRwnPLe96g3RvFvtJq0F4fO1t-zIEu0Yu8FL9QXE/s320/BandedDemoiselleFemale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483870454429856114" /></a><br />The male Banded demoiselle is very striking and familiar, with its electric blue body and dark patches on each wing that catch the eye as it flutters. The female is probably less well known. Here's one demonstrating the full emerald green bodywork and wings. There were loads of males and females as well as other species fluttering around the site in the sun today, particularly by the low bridge by the spit.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u43TNUPKXo-ONEgiG_9Umm1xy1gPVEdP9JzkzG0pfRrExGJxrV_kgYi44MNXOhtTmpV1V-wENF5hHNAMxOx3Vh9MBcmvU2b7pWfKDXMCZRy6mKe_x5poYFLK77QtBgB95ImQVbFotCg/s1600/BandedDemoiselleMale.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u43TNUPKXo-ONEgiG_9Umm1xy1gPVEdP9JzkzG0pfRrExGJxrV_kgYi44MNXOhtTmpV1V-wENF5hHNAMxOx3Vh9MBcmvU2b7pWfKDXMCZRy6mKe_x5poYFLK77QtBgB95ImQVbFotCg/s320/BandedDemoiselleMale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483871002778724466" /></a><br />I didn't get such a good photo of the male, but I include it for completeness. I suppose it's kind of arty!Sam Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557722130284466658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-24051483730213571482010-05-28T16:08:00.002+01:002010-05-28T16:10:57.078+01:00heron stalking ....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyqAP5pYvMEljSKH3nrUjwN44IgcAN0RKp26Jk4y1M5QnW_4exheFthhVWCUTWh0YNr57K5ncwSum0Ny_ffiAfcOOurmATMOEHJyqwcTGogI_PusaQb3hE2p1bdyjMxz_-VJxzR6UrwOy/s1600/P5230635.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyqAP5pYvMEljSKH3nrUjwN44IgcAN0RKp26Jk4y1M5QnW_4exheFthhVWCUTWh0YNr57K5ncwSum0Ny_ffiAfcOOurmATMOEHJyqwcTGogI_PusaQb3hE2p1bdyjMxz_-VJxzR6UrwOy/s320/P5230635.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476338440611718274" /></a><br />heron stalking .......metal duck?Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-1079350108195868532010-05-22T17:36:00.011+01:002010-05-22T18:09:34.629+01:00careful what you touch21.05.2010<br />It's warming up at the Mere<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY5XEk6mJnBubMGsxFUHK75ckB3cERWQoLPv4hU-_50rdlB2swScgZgaZnm_Qb98BovKKDY_RDsnbsEth0D_2mTYtM7x85m37qPuVnW5WSrappzpzwYqdVPhSuY38v1oJRKSTu588QhM/s1600/DSC_7437edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY5XEk6mJnBubMGsxFUHK75ckB3cERWQoLPv4hU-_50rdlB2swScgZgaZnm_Qb98BovKKDY_RDsnbsEth0D_2mTYtM7x85m37qPuVnW5WSrappzpzwYqdVPhSuY38v1oJRKSTu588QhM/s400/DSC_7437edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474138683519249394" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />after sitting here for a while, squirrel number one hopped across the bridge using the handrail as it's own little highway.<br />Their agility has to be admired.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX4Ts8PV_0pbhPY-eHhcDLeONMmrjGpHDR150e7HjseroS8CqWwHQnbSpARYJzQtj4PgbXWPj7QzouQF6aB5q5WAW5hSQ6imVzuY6Q4y6GVXGcxbPcXLFOdEF03GtFp5DVE5YdCeCadk/s1600/DSC_7443edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX4Ts8PV_0pbhPY-eHhcDLeONMmrjGpHDR150e7HjseroS8CqWwHQnbSpARYJzQtj4PgbXWPj7QzouQF6aB5q5WAW5hSQ6imVzuY6Q4y6GVXGcxbPcXLFOdEF03GtFp5DVE5YdCeCadk/s400/DSC_7443edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474138467032784130" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />later, squirrel number two turned up and had a good old sniff about.<br />It then scurried across the bridge, in the wake of number one, sniffing everywhere it went, .<br />I know it's not exactly news, but we are surrounded by animal scents -we may well be mistaken for a squirrel by another as we probably have their scent on us . . . if we use the handrail.<br />I may well wear latex gloves next time I cross the bridge!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBo0SqREk0gtcB_Xvji8ToE8MpbF2QOswEGpxYsV-OLCkkiRsY2AXeNLLAraIZct8YUjU-ayRGMs3f9y90quPxdrh2olJnP8jnFzT20wNnedx5Gf2DoYP0BYPa2rTVw2n6rCLywH2xpw/s1600/DSC_7366edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBo0SqREk0gtcB_Xvji8ToE8MpbF2QOswEGpxYsV-OLCkkiRsY2AXeNLLAraIZct8YUjU-ayRGMs3f9y90quPxdrh2olJnP8jnFzT20wNnedx5Gf2DoYP0BYPa2rTVw2n6rCLywH2xpw/s400/DSC_7366edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474137452090705106" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />a snatch of yet another furious fight between a coot and anything else that happens to be passing.<br />Here it's the moorhen couple (see previous blog entry) who eventually saw off the intruder.<br />If there was a passing rhino, I think the coot would have a go. . . <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWF_u5L2cc2h73KfivvqQO5wHKXr4ALk9Llc0aTmA13Mg8r3-HsqYK2BdlBMnaAzGfGcQ7EbfNVL0y_vLyX7vFCjAZDjphIfN6FueUAvH_FQ2BEL1Yz-Q3hlpL3OkxNtfkkUPe1dvezM/s1600/DSC_7461edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWF_u5L2cc2h73KfivvqQO5wHKXr4ALk9Llc0aTmA13Mg8r3-HsqYK2BdlBMnaAzGfGcQ7EbfNVL0y_vLyX7vFCjAZDjphIfN6FueUAvH_FQ2BEL1Yz-Q3hlpL3OkxNtfkkUPe1dvezM/s400/DSC_7461edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474136416146639058" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />one of the ubiquitous collared doves leaving the feeder.<br />I include this as a fleeting moment, normally the wing display would be lost in a flurry of feathers. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWs3ZnDPQ3lpexgMS8wqS883tXGQ4VUqBSd72LYi3oNH4hFZki9dLPDTqnANZURutU-ssz7hEyC6FxGsEyOf0hTRDc86EdGtqwwYnnMZmEUmzBAALJf-U74iDMtJqRzYYRymD2ZYo_5Y/s1600/DSC_7618edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWs3ZnDPQ3lpexgMS8wqS883tXGQ4VUqBSd72LYi3oNH4hFZki9dLPDTqnANZURutU-ssz7hEyC6FxGsEyOf0hTRDc86EdGtqwwYnnMZmEUmzBAALJf-U74iDMtJqRzYYRymD2ZYo_5Y/s400/DSC_7618edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474136069676625682" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />still four in number and doing well, the mallard chicks.<br />And elder brother in the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CBWGjRUQCej_GLdhEnSB1qKx16mzNNUCwPfCSOcKnFILAl-RYwack5Bh4UNZ22Uzt4FEe4fFCqMPc6PUxoNpJj5WdMJ3TbUmUwPdMNUDhjrttqRBZl9juxjua2G9DUJ1Zw2hyGznUYY/s1600/DSC_7722edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CBWGjRUQCej_GLdhEnSB1qKx16mzNNUCwPfCSOcKnFILAl-RYwack5Bh4UNZ22Uzt4FEe4fFCqMPc6PUxoNpJj5WdMJ3TbUmUwPdMNUDhjrttqRBZl9juxjua2G9DUJ1Zw2hyGznUYY/s400/DSC_7722edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474134878305487042" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />yes, the slime is back.<br />Looking at last year's blog, it was present 01.07.09.<br />The delightful, fragrant, blue green algal bloom.<br />It'll cover the Mere in a weekend I bet.<br />It's warming up at the Merekeithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139296414813088746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-35798944045966198952010-05-17T10:31:00.014+01:002010-05-17T14:14:53.299+01:00noise15.05.2010<br />A few unexpected noises and interruptions today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbf_FMtMNzSklkiuUPyfsTTuPo6eXIahsdF-pChGSMvGej0idUsgAtF1x6yonjeOq6ild5T-YSMydb5ZfLOkxjDJ2q9Wr4UyJQ5eFmuyeOqRmo35WqmCc8UrEMJ7X6LqXzTmEmlaH1ew/s1600/DSC_6603edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbf_FMtMNzSklkiuUPyfsTTuPo6eXIahsdF-pChGSMvGej0idUsgAtF1x6yonjeOq6ild5T-YSMydb5ZfLOkxjDJ2q9Wr4UyJQ5eFmuyeOqRmo35WqmCc8UrEMJ7X6LqXzTmEmlaH1ew/s400/DSC_6603edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472173449196891698" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />there was a huge amount of noise upon my arrival, it turned out to be a great spotted woodpecker pecking an owl box.<br />A poor shot, but it shows the guilty party.<br />The box served to amplify his hammering -in a big way, if he wanted to make an impression, he succeeded.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUiAW1ytpy6mS1I5wRa4JnTCtmWhwr-D4JwTSkBem97CHQGA-Ofdz7IKLwroMTUKio08ZB9wnHy_voqoqimogfKIC0qbEV3HZ5_biypoqOfl5TH_HZVcHzYCE2YxcQ7JdZfiuSAyVoEo/s1600/DSC_6779edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUiAW1ytpy6mS1I5wRa4JnTCtmWhwr-D4JwTSkBem97CHQGA-Ofdz7IKLwroMTUKio08ZB9wnHy_voqoqimogfKIC0qbEV3HZ5_biypoqOfl5TH_HZVcHzYCE2YxcQ7JdZfiuSAyVoEo/s400/DSC_6779edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472173101571912050" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />here's a bit of a close up of the damaged box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFrpGZZwHg0nbZP7Ei_nTAsrMFX4j9niDP7FKwkiVUbtoqwGTz9peraaNHgLMJUxU51Mgm50z4DSJuvUcz4x7GAcejo0xCDIrjqvLTXKui6fx4Cs-qSKULTWPuHZwRzh7wR_ghX761ig/s1600/DSC_6709edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFrpGZZwHg0nbZP7Ei_nTAsrMFX4j9niDP7FKwkiVUbtoqwGTz9peraaNHgLMJUxU51Mgm50z4DSJuvUcz4x7GAcejo0xCDIrjqvLTXKui6fx4Cs-qSKULTWPuHZwRzh7wR_ghX761ig/s400/DSC_6709edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472171627279223874" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />these mallard chicks now number four, there were ten.<br />Also with them is a presumed elder brother/ mongrel from an earlier brood. He is mentioned in Sam's previous blog entry, <br />also, he's the duckling featured in my post of 22.04.2010<br />I later saw the proper father return, so our mongrel must be the same hanger-on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoDUc92DpE31xnt19gAFgo9DTDQGRpFGHzQ7Q4-iTpYNwMv0uedEBAXGRMSps3_8zDJZOoPEmhnfKD7aR2Vo-ebY0Sn_cF9Lp6z1amytKAKqsH0gjOORwqjTvWwYl0NLKpDoWhZ-mWsc/s1600/DSC_6738edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoDUc92DpE31xnt19gAFgo9DTDQGRpFGHzQ7Q4-iTpYNwMv0uedEBAXGRMSps3_8zDJZOoPEmhnfKD7aR2Vo-ebY0Sn_cF9Lp6z1amytKAKqsH0gjOORwqjTvWwYl0NLKpDoWhZ-mWsc/s400/DSC_6738edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472170888181896434" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />I think we may be parents soon!<br />There is already another successful pair of moorhens on the reserve. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULm2L3M5F-5iCmNOzBlQgX2sPJyWlQXS2JdJ3uQXs8Qs57ISKVZM7sYjAEjh-XW1jOP1MhN8-8AumxzJ-7J-6eDRUR46kHzjQR7HtSHzeCfs5lQ7KSalWxTkc6ESnEg47pfrcQqv4Lf4/s1600/DSC_6907edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULm2L3M5F-5iCmNOzBlQgX2sPJyWlQXS2JdJ3uQXs8Qs57ISKVZM7sYjAEjh-XW1jOP1MhN8-8AumxzJ-7J-6eDRUR46kHzjQR7HtSHzeCfs5lQ7KSalWxTkc6ESnEg47pfrcQqv4Lf4/s400/DSC_6907edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472169490693777010" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />to illustrate the interruption problems the reserve faces from careless people outside the site, this image does the job.<br />Here is a snap of a hound galloping along the Ver, it ran all the way past the inlet right up to the railway bridge.<br />There was nothing to stop him getting into the reserve and doing untold damage.<br />I find it incredibly irresponsible for owners to let their dogs loose like this.keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139296414813088746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-43286262526651857512010-05-16T10:47:00.002+01:002010-05-16T10:50:55.385+01:00Heron<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL0cVoC5c8k4nH7oN1vaKQofJBsHYp-yTDprHAPMGF82uVv1Y6YY4fiI-Hc2bwekaDabH_dOOeZnraJOnXqdMPK9SVmegMgNQBnxQpHOCJbpZq7bFUWPRbC7OTAB212FYlsYMwSRKSNhh/s1600/heron+close+up.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471802436408127490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfL0cVoC5c8k4nH7oN1vaKQofJBsHYp-yTDprHAPMGF82uVv1Y6YY4fiI-Hc2bwekaDabH_dOOeZnraJOnXqdMPK9SVmegMgNQBnxQpHOCJbpZq7bFUWPRbC7OTAB212FYlsYMwSRKSNhh/s320/heron+close+up.JPG" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>A lovely picture sent in by one of our members.</div><div> </div><div> </div>sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10629834440001978835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-78487669959539249372010-05-10T23:00:00.004+01:002010-05-10T23:08:41.111+01:00Mongrel Mallard<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37Y1rvJ6XqgKeRhD6PQEH9qviPvYQGFucvW-lUTl-wXy_2UfZUwexgZWQGctHlanubOrKeA6IPtimMPP7mI1QQvR97320IWGDd5_odApdFS3ykk5deXy-1jPc0Yg5mOIApkXya0svXIQ/s1600/MankyMallardDucklings.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37Y1rvJ6XqgKeRhD6PQEH9qviPvYQGFucvW-lUTl-wXy_2UfZUwexgZWQGctHlanubOrKeA6IPtimMPP7mI1QQvR97320IWGDd5_odApdFS3ykk5deXy-1jPc0Yg5mOIApkXya0svXIQ/s320/MankyMallardDucklings.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469765564695491906" /></a><br /><br /><p style="float:right">The title is Sheila's description of the odd looking duck masquerading as the father of a brood of ten ducklings on the mere. It's probably a juvenile from a previous brood that's sticking with its mother still, so it's not the father (which is what I first assumed) though the father is almost definitely an odd looking duck itself, that has passed on its genes to this one.<br /><br />It's interesting to note that one of the ten ducklings is similarly coloured and stands out from the rest - it is all dark bar a white breast.</p><br /><br /><div style="clear:left"></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZpg0cnvibupn3EJ1eR35C6_oNJeofVmwELikIjqxCNm8HrGaW-4PI7gS9BUtOG3fYGx1W0-DvAFjK07F4ykU5UaFyrlGPOMPJyRf3uVxtB8hQg14obwtcgBAhuTU2mGj0R5yCO4R9vo/s1600/MankyMallardTeenager.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZpg0cnvibupn3EJ1eR35C6_oNJeofVmwELikIjqxCNm8HrGaW-4PI7gS9BUtOG3fYGx1W0-DvAFjK07F4ykU5UaFyrlGPOMPJyRf3uVxtB8hQg14obwtcgBAhuTU2mGj0R5yCO4R9vo/s320/MankyMallardTeenager.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469765591786988722" /></a><br /><div style="clear:left"></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW6IQBdfQDX186ChHFPmnlhlEmnp_uNvcJGN7vEiLE_Dqye4tb7KnPTMjLwMKDaSWfulVdOkwUnJcqLvJn4KhU2oeTTH7DODawku5hoJE45uvAyN4YDEh5U-STQ8e-8vcMhb_33LIZbo/s1600/MankyMallardDucklings2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeW6IQBdfQDX186ChHFPmnlhlEmnp_uNvcJGN7vEiLE_Dqye4tb7KnPTMjLwMKDaSWfulVdOkwUnJcqLvJn4KhU2oeTTH7DODawku5hoJE45uvAyN4YDEh5U-STQ8e-8vcMhb_33LIZbo/s320/MankyMallardDucklings2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469765597356231954" /></a><br /><div style="clear:left"></div>Sam Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557722130284466658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-20703675128566305672010-04-30T16:04:00.001+01:002010-05-31T13:23:55.433+01:00sightings board April<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CkUT7zu6E7oNosSlqra0DzrEBIjBKUBgvqEOxb9jpi_ZrlTKSLA2W-ORCWbIDanEtGdeoXkhX0q1PiTSJI35fxcYRc3A6dkMS3kaWAuIiNLHsxyNkK-V-rVUHlIDYYvYGh7iidXoUdNk/s1600/sightings+April.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CkUT7zu6E7oNosSlqra0DzrEBIjBKUBgvqEOxb9jpi_ZrlTKSLA2W-ORCWbIDanEtGdeoXkhX0q1PiTSJI35fxcYRc3A6dkMS3kaWAuIiNLHsxyNkK-V-rVUHlIDYYvYGh7iidXoUdNk/s320/sightings+April.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476337316568242562" /></a>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-31987390975750819412010-04-28T19:01:00.004+01:002010-04-28T19:17:31.769+01:00Let sleeping snakes lie..<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUP0ELWCCxkKIlX5rH5ZUxYySVXJPAhH2kRuHH3QDKuIYrozPDrvyyvOl3A5iAAhim-n9vorwdxDXR_gGw_Nd4VTJ9G-7YvWgPu46KYiK5CSpbhAM25PKF2KAbv0xO-NsbKCE0DsXhwx6L/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465250082016799506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUP0ELWCCxkKIlX5rH5ZUxYySVXJPAhH2kRuHH3QDKuIYrozPDrvyyvOl3A5iAAhim-n9vorwdxDXR_gGw_Nd4VTJ9G-7YvWgPu46KYiK5CSpbhAM25PKF2KAbv0xO-NsbKCE0DsXhwx6L/s320/006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div><span>I nearly stepped on this grass snake that was<br />basking in the morning sunshine on the entrance</span></div><div><span>drive. A group of ramblers arrived at the same </span></div><div><span>and were thrilled to share this sighting with us.</span></div><div><span> This must now be the most photographed snake</span></div><div><span> in England! <span>It eventually became camera shy</span></span></div><div><span><span> and slithered slowly away into the adjacent grass.</span></span></div><div><span><span>Perhaps it had only just come out of hibernation</span></span></div><div><span><span>as this occurs in March/April?</span></div><div><span> </span><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div><div></div><br /><div></div></div>sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10629834440001978835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-26738416937919728712010-04-25T22:57:00.003+01:002010-04-25T23:08:30.399+01:00sunday 25th april<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhox62zXhz5QzUC9uHFdmgV0AF2Sfo9yoVExb2RngTjhSRFPiHKaJnbUXb8Pi3C8iQhggF83tA2cCln5G2I6tgIRgkcSDgqnN9DpWTcYoykVCRYk9k6aJFQjudMF1RfjNjQ0Ri8sfkTr_o/s1600/chaenomeles.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464197947012108290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhox62zXhz5QzUC9uHFdmgV0AF2Sfo9yoVExb2RngTjhSRFPiHKaJnbUXb8Pi3C8iQhggF83tA2cCln5G2I6tgIRgkcSDgqnN9DpWTcYoykVCRYk9k6aJFQjudMF1RfjNjQ0Ri8sfkTr_o/s320/chaenomeles.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>after a long absence, I've remembered the password and can include two pics from today's site visit. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>First Chaenomeles, not native plant, but legacy of many years of cultivation. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Second is Speckled Wood butterfly taking brief rest in welcome sunlight...... </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkPI5s3AfNXSFK00H5dFHbCn4wzExMbsWgCp6xivvJKNSn_xxYaaRrDwU4iFuWteQcC0G_0wzrueC-YvCZs3QSazRQKGtItLBke_s4q6S0hHWF6em2A-C_kUiPSyPXIc_rOuBTF9wmhU/s1600/speckledwood.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464199676167610834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkPI5s3AfNXSFK00H5dFHbCn4wzExMbsWgCp6xivvJKNSn_xxYaaRrDwU4iFuWteQcC0G_0wzrueC-YvCZs3QSazRQKGtItLBke_s4q6S0hHWF6em2A-C_kUiPSyPXIc_rOuBTF9wmhU/s320/speckledwood.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div>stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230441050902359319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-36114624341703393022010-04-23T15:47:00.012+01:002010-04-23T16:13:18.176+01:00foliage troubles22.04.2010<br />my first visit for a while, too long really.<br />I was plagued by foliage getting in the way of my "perfect" shots, also unwanted branches.<br />We could also blame the creatures themselves, they don't want to be pestered do they?<br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRpVLXyiFjtX_qQKXAdQ8Nk_PWo1jmalz3xF6dQn3rnWjbueZZZqHx7B1OkYKHUaQbWWIJTXnoY0K45-H7BQPsXSXlOkz4zhyJatxqq2FMOMJpFvkYExj5FVJoPI9y524mvHmdyDOxbg/s1600/DSC_3038edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRpVLXyiFjtX_qQKXAdQ8Nk_PWo1jmalz3xF6dQn3rnWjbueZZZqHx7B1OkYKHUaQbWWIJTXnoY0K45-H7BQPsXSXlOkz4zhyJatxqq2FMOMJpFvkYExj5FVJoPI9y524mvHmdyDOxbg/s400/DSC_3038edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463346283583955602" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />here a wren tries to hide under a leaf -and nearly succeeds.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLYCh54KcVUH6N6o0YJk_Qf9wxRNST2SoJ68Kkbv_LLXBNATo_aB3P7GBh_68py7q_F4NE1gcWfPadc-qNik1Hld2sPzWhxwqO7u7SxvgNChJZtLLvGfOlAZIM8hb4KqBBFgD_leNyFc/s1600/DSC_3066edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLYCh54KcVUH6N6o0YJk_Qf9wxRNST2SoJ68Kkbv_LLXBNATo_aB3P7GBh_68py7q_F4NE1gcWfPadc-qNik1Hld2sPzWhxwqO7u7SxvgNChJZtLLvGfOlAZIM8hb4KqBBFgD_leNyFc/s400/DSC_3066edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463346152444890866" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />it's time to say "aah" as the ever present blue tits pose for us.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-Me2DTW1C_CcVEVnA0NYrFP317jNkswAx0u-QoteNbXi1igVwDRA0_1D7bYila3hZrPRC_lXoO6cqtXyxPGeglpyt8Y32vwmNY0GX2u5DqA9q66QcPcuT3mJ_OWam5RQGbr6NOG60Fc/s1600/DSC_3151edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 322px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-Me2DTW1C_CcVEVnA0NYrFP317jNkswAx0u-QoteNbXi1igVwDRA0_1D7bYila3hZrPRC_lXoO6cqtXyxPGeglpyt8Y32vwmNY0GX2u5DqA9q66QcPcuT3mJ_OWam5RQGbr6NOG60Fc/s400/DSC_3151edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463345997792598434" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />among the leaves, again.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxPdCJMXxNnlVSMLVXm7hjCbivqt_a0ZPbNveQd3a2uzMjaNf9iUlNCzuU_BHtlBb0FvJtMT-6ZjOgyp17FJ-X0QXJjGS8U2_nJeH4RIuzdAoWv76Q40IVzHI1IRTPTsCq8XeNfb1LdE/s1600/DSC_3161edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxPdCJMXxNnlVSMLVXm7hjCbivqt_a0ZPbNveQd3a2uzMjaNf9iUlNCzuU_BHtlBb0FvJtMT-6ZjOgyp17FJ-X0QXJjGS8U2_nJeH4RIuzdAoWv76Q40IVzHI1IRTPTsCq8XeNfb1LdE/s400/DSC_3161edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463345820059568626" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />the fritillaries on show again, though with some frost damage.<br />I managed to hide those to the rear of this shot, they appear lighter.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLb-QuowBDKfW4TjB-U8QcA6DFuuQUevMJi3XIiuOf4JkR_W4VwvB8WKtm_-nx9mJM2wp7PNGBo2ot9dCXlsZSH7zO9t2SZpJ493mi1tJbJGwK4NkYt6WTsjqh8qUD1o7BxNaTU0dYP0/s1600/DSC_3176edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLb-QuowBDKfW4TjB-U8QcA6DFuuQUevMJi3XIiuOf4JkR_W4VwvB8WKtm_-nx9mJM2wp7PNGBo2ot9dCXlsZSH7zO9t2SZpJ493mi1tJbJGwK4NkYt6WTsjqh8qUD1o7BxNaTU0dYP0/s400/DSC_3176edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463345635162263314" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />a peacock butterfly suns itself on a log heap, after all the cold, it's nice to see some beneficial sunshine.<br />Also seen, orange tip and speckled wood.<br /><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsyJakb0lxK1Lw635L0qcbYMUo6qt0zPt5QohSa5EeselyO-QTeJ4WGHOcUmcTipeZJ3GHdL12L5obUoUVa4TH9dJOS_bPaaoqNuzHe1r2Q_0OUphlPYPjDxrWTL6Ks9FQpA_pfKsV0U/s1600/DSC_3279edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsyJakb0lxK1Lw635L0qcbYMUo6qt0zPt5QohSa5EeselyO-QTeJ4WGHOcUmcTipeZJ3GHdL12L5obUoUVa4TH9dJOS_bPaaoqNuzHe1r2Q_0OUphlPYPjDxrWTL6Ks9FQpA_pfKsV0U/s400/DSC_3279edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463345257960733890" /></a><br /><div style="clear:both"></div><br />I saw a male mallard chase away a duckling earlier, the female seems to tolerate him still.<br />He's a bit of a mongrel, a bit dull. He may grow up to be a she, we'll see.<br />Anyway he has found the surplus seeds below the feeders, so he should survive OK.keithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04139296414813088746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-9838129577419161622010-03-28T16:00:00.001+01:002010-05-31T13:22:45.581+01:00sightings board March<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_t2pcTWSjwgyOSizw3ol0gWjgE_lhZmLqib4Oqtp-YmX8PIQYEEsGJYFS7e8BxToSye2POYGt5ViK2JvdL1zxkqkwYMUYTuFWRrpKWDcEmTLJl1HcsgfD-q3eNuIXedFw1F3Zpugo0js/s1600/sightings+March.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_t2pcTWSjwgyOSizw3ol0gWjgE_lhZmLqib4Oqtp-YmX8PIQYEEsGJYFS7e8BxToSye2POYGt5ViK2JvdL1zxkqkwYMUYTuFWRrpKWDcEmTLJl1HcsgfD-q3eNuIXedFw1F3Zpugo0js/s320/sightings+March.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476336344111673394" /></a>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-84276166801415516592010-02-28T19:16:00.002+00:002010-02-28T19:21:41.183+00:00Muntjac crossing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFloFDpaNZy-es_x4UF60l5wq9YdR5RylXXDkMWyDGnlkhJClT_uMVCgUzMNmCx_mae7Sx4ajcAwz-mctH9oVnm7r__7VWP34mfh02sWZFAfJfR4qLMSR1D9p7ReXlIKHfeTmNUuZVrQ/s1600-h/MuntjacDeer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFloFDpaNZy-es_x4UF60l5wq9YdR5RylXXDkMWyDGnlkhJClT_uMVCgUzMNmCx_mae7Sx4ajcAwz-mctH9oVnm7r__7VWP34mfh02sWZFAfJfR4qLMSR1D9p7ReXlIKHfeTmNUuZVrQ/s400/MuntjacDeer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443376303848354338" /></a><br /><br />This Muntjac deer slowly ambled across the bridge over the Mere whilst working party attendees sipped hot drinks in the bird hide. It then slowly made its way down the path on the other side, stopping to nibble at the grass. This is by far the best sighting I've had of a Muntjac as they're usually running away into the bushes.Sam Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557722130284466658noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674482890290510920.post-49899569043664822762010-02-11T21:42:00.011+00:002010-05-31T13:28:07.026+01:00Walk round reserve<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBUqt2xpD89FV1EM5CtiWWvBrA2uDAXR8DP9zgBxRt7Z5IbtesuL47bqq-kQxnHakg83jv3Wxk-xc2M1YdUIdit1TarYg8HpW4tt79z_37oOCBUsmp8seBL78t3_zf_T4X-Gr5MrbBUIa/s1600-h/sightings+Jan+10.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437110193823980242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBUqt2xpD89FV1EM5CtiWWvBrA2uDAXR8DP9zgBxRt7Z5IbtesuL47bqq-kQxnHakg83jv3Wxk-xc2M1YdUIdit1TarYg8HpW4tt79z_37oOCBUsmp8seBL78t3_zf_T4X-Gr5MrbBUIa/s320/sightings+Jan+10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNQ2igJT-j2Qgdwd4uW2IOno4I0k3H_hlNj0jjVEzgbAeZaSglFwSjime5DL0Nzu3pai5zMOFrjcmIFZdKdtnl0wrWbqrWpnjOUTB9LfWMu3T2RrG381h_n8bu8aRK-lg7_kxyNbn93V-/s1600-h/with+old+tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437109198550145074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNQ2igJT-j2Qgdwd4uW2IOno4I0k3H_hlNj0jjVEzgbAeZaSglFwSjime5DL0Nzu3pai5zMOFrjcmIFZdKdtnl0wrWbqrWpnjOUTB9LfWMu3T2RrG381h_n8bu8aRK-lg7_kxyNbn93V-/s320/with+old+tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Sightings board for January</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br />Bullrushes standing out more in winter<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbE30Nrj0oPsOLypFrWHH43GjwWb_Ppyo3sUfY4fSX6gDcvAP4u5M2w5kvv6jmk6oOU2DQFdbuASd-Nc0LxQCrycyTNJAaUhZjVtXKApaLnfpsN_Hisniedk39hmK2TSYFOOGdHoimM8d/s1600-h/P2100222.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437109197095325314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbE30Nrj0oPsOLypFrWHH43GjwWb_Ppyo3sUfY4fSX6gDcvAP4u5M2w5kvv6jmk6oOU2DQFdbuASd-Nc0LxQCrycyTNJAaUhZjVtXKApaLnfpsN_Hisniedk39hmK2TSYFOOGdHoimM8d/s320/P2100222.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1ZqOmSFk0qcMsi42UftXLV4dUcAX8s7ThYcpVgD41sTuzQWIMAjLUki6On4zOKgGav8-Y84aaQW0QcUZix6gZ9HpmsqeEKZC8z8hbRlwweO5jnNHqyCnzMB4h539C-57B9ktXVEfK7LZ/s1600-h/tree.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437108151933935346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1ZqOmSFk0qcMsi42UftXLV4dUcAX8s7ThYcpVgD41sTuzQWIMAjLUki6On4zOKgGav8-Y84aaQW0QcUZix6gZ9HpmsqeEKZC8z8hbRlwweO5jnNHqyCnzMB4h539C-57B9ktXVEfK7LZ/s320/tree.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tree as sculpture<br /><br /><br /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06424756768912199702noreply@blogger.com0