Return to Woodoaks Farm

A mid-morning return to the farm in sunny mild conditions gave a good opportunity to photograph the insects and butterflies that were showing well.

                                          Small Tortoiseshell.

                                           Marbled White.

                                           Ringlet.

                                                   Longhorn Beetle

                                                      Small White.

                                           Large Skipper.

Woodoaks Farm

A morning visit in hot, humid conditions with a light cooling breeze produced the following species;
Common Buzzard (2), Common Kestrel (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (4), Feral Pigeon (1), Woodpigeon (5), Collared Dove (5), Common Swift (5), Skylark (2 singing male), Swallow (pair feeding 2 fledged young), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Lesser Whitethroat (singing male), Common Whitethroat (singing male), Garden Warbler (1), Blackcap (2 singing male), Chiffchaff (3 singing male), Goldcrest (singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw (7), Carrion Crow, Starling (c30 in old orchard), House Sparrow (pair feeding 5 recently fledged young), Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer (singing male).
Butterflies
Small White, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Comma, Marbled White (5), Ringlet (5), Large Skipper. 

                                                         Swallow (adult).

                                                        Swallow (juvenile).

Yesterday at Stockers Farm, Stockers Lake & Bury Lake

A late afternoon visit in mild but windy conditions produced the following species;
Great-crested Grebe (20), Cormorant (5), Grey Heron (10), Mute Swan (44), Greylag Goose (9), Canada Goose (137 plus pair with goslings at Stockers Farm), Mallard (49), Pochard (pair plus duck with 3 ducklings), Tufted Duck (29), Red-crested Pochard (eclipse drake), Red Kite (1), Kestrel (male returning to nest box with food), Moorhen (2), Coot (110), Black-headed Gull (13 including 4 pairs with young and 2 nesting pairs), Common Tern (19 including 4 pairs with young), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (3), Swift (3), Kingfisher (1), Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Sedge Warbler (3 singing male), Reed Warbler (5 singing male), Garden Warbler (1), Blackcap (4 singing male plus female), Chiffchaff (2 singing male), Magpie (pair with fledged young at Stockers Farm), Jackdaw (4 over), Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting (2 singing male).
Butterflies;
Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell.
 

Maple Lodge in the rain

I visited the reserve with my daughter Emily and on arriving we were treated to the call of a Tawny Owl that was being harassed by a rather noisy Magpie on the roof of the clubhouse. At the feeding station 3 Ring-necked Parakeet were gorging on peanuts and were soon accompanied by 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker.
On the lake a female Pochard was observed with at least 3 juvs and a Grey Heron was flushed from the waters edge. At Lynsters Hide several pairs of Greylag Geese were present with goslings and at the flower meadow a Green Woodpecker was flushed. At Shell Hide a pair of Black-headed Gull were still present at the old Coot nest and may still breed. Several Swallow and Swift were also noted before we made our way back home.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

After a night of heavy but welcome rain the reserve looked somewhat greener although water levels on both main lakes looked much the same as on my previous visit. From Rotunda Hide several Grey Heron and a single Little Egret fed among the shallows and a pair of Moorhen were noted with young. At the Paddock I observed 2 Fox Cubs chasing around under the watchful eye of the Vixen before they all moved off to deeper cover. From the Shell Hide an adult Garden Warbler was noted collecting food while on the lake 54 Gadwall and several Shoveler Duck dabbled for food.

                                           Fox cubs in the Paddock.

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Gravel Pit/Farm

I spent the afternoon at the reserve where water levels continue to drop with the plantation and sluice now dry. Another sunny, hot day with a welcoming breeze bringing  relief from the heat.
Species observed as follows;
Little Grebe (3 inc pair), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (4), Mute Swan (pair), Greylag Goose (16 adults and creche of c12 young at Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (13 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (32), Teal (pair from Rotunda), Mallard (9), Shoveler Duck (1), Pochard (6), Tufted Duck (10), Hobby (1 hawking above the reed bed), Moorhen (2 pairs), Coot (54 inc 2 pairs with young), Black-headed Gull (14 inc copulating pair at old coot nest), Common Tern (3 nesting pairs), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Swift (several over), Kingfisher (1 briefly), Green Woodpecker (1 at Long Hedge), Pied Wagtail (1 over briefly), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush (4 singing male), Reed Warbler (2 singing male), Common Whitethroat (singing male at cricket pitch), Blackcap (3 singing male), Chiffchaff (singing male),  Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit (pair feeding fledged young at plantation), Jay (2), Magpie, Jackdaw (2 over briefly), Carrion Crow, Chaffinch (several singing male).
Butterflies;
Large White, Brimstone.
Dragonflies and Damselflies;
Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly.

                                           Black-tailed Skimmer (female) at Long Hedge