Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

A morning visit in mild, sunny conditions with birding pal Steve Carter produced a pair of Eurasian Oystercatcher feeing on the cricket pitch.

At Rotunda Hide we briefly photographed Early Marsh Orchids and Yellow Flag Iris while several Common Swift buzzed overhead.

At the Long Hedge several Damselflies were were making the most of the dry, mild conditions.

                                                                  Azure Damselfly.

From Long Hedge Hide the resident pair of Great Crested Grebe were again observed with a single juvenile and three eggs at the nest, hopefully these will all hatch in the coming days.