First sighting of a bittern this year

Out for a nice post xmas stroll really with Julie around Summer Leys this morning. Not a cloud in the sky and 10 degrees it was a pleasure to be out and if you kept walking you were as warm as toast.

I did stop a couple of times. The first was when there were a group of birders looking out into the reed bed behind the feeding station. On Ruth's suggestion i had a quick look through the scope and there was a Bittern tucked behind a few reeds as camouflaged as can be. Excellent. We walked to the screen hide and got a much better view with the bins. By the time i got my camera out though it had stopped showing. So i turned around for this heron shot instead.
I have been surprised how many Bullfinches seem to have come over this year, from Scandinavia i presume. In previous years i usually only get a few fleeting glimpses of a white arse. However over the last few weeks i have seen some on each trip. Very colourful as was this one on Summer Leys feeding station.

Irthlingborogh surveying

The wildlife trust are looking to purchase a new nature reserve in the nene valley next to Rushden and Diamonds Stadium. It's a massive area and would probably be their biggest reserve in northants. It is an old gravel extraction area and is a bit abused at the moment. The litter and behaviour from the fishermen here is attrocious, makes me feel a little ashamed.

We were on a water beetle and bug survey and are starting to build a big list of species. It is not really the right time of year but it was good to understand the site a little better and take a few photos

Dark Bellied Brent Goose

It was blowing a gale today and thought i would go out for a bracing walk around Clifford Hill barrage lake. Most wildlife was either hunkered down or afloat to keep out of the way of dog walkers around the edge. However I did see this Dark Bellied Brent Goose amongst the Graylags. I haven't seen one of these for many years.

I know it isn't a nature reserve here but was still really surprised to how many people decided not to walk on the banking path but around the lake edge disturbing as much wildlife as they can. Out of the 20 people walking round 6 were walking the lake edge, all women and all with dogs not on a lead, amazing. Considering the sign when i was last there was a picture of a mauled sheep by a dog and a warning all dogs off the lead will be shot, they must be a defiant lot!

As I walked there and back though i went through Abington Meadows where i only met 2 people, only one with a dog and it was on a lead. It did feel that the wildlife trust are either teaching people to be responsible or moving on those that aren't. Either way it seems to be working.

Praying for Water Beetles

I started the autumn Nene Valley invertebrate monitoring programme this weekend with trips to Wilsons Pit and Twywell hills and dales. Del pinched my camera and took a couple of photos, this one looks as though i was praying!

I didn't need to though as there were plenty of beetles around.

At Tywell there 10 species of water beetle including Graptodytes pictus, Gyrinus marinus and the 3 main species of Anacaena. In addition 5 Species Water bug including Notonecta viridus

At Wilsons Pit 13 species water beetle including Hygrobia hermanni, Nebrioporus elegans and Hydroglyphus puscillus. As well as 12 great species of water bugs including Micronecta Scholzi, Sigara limitata and Sigara nigrolineata.

A great start just at the end of the nice weather. perhaps I should be praying for better weather!!

River Swift

This week we arranged a team building session with work to build some new stock fencing down the side of the River Swift on the Warwickshire WT reserve. A great laugh, working with different groups driving in fence posts, digging holes and laying out the fencing.

It was surprising how rewarding it all was even with a few aches and pains.

I didn't concentrate on the wildlife much but you can't help noticing Red Admirals, Speckled Wood's, 7 spot ladybirds in large quantities feeding on aphids and small frogs looking for a new home.

Dragonfly exhuvia

Attended one of Henry Stanier's identification courses today to brush up on damselflies especially. Tricky little devils some of them. You always learn something at these events and today it was that generally you can find the cases usually about 5 inches from water and 5 inches above it on matter that they can cling too. Ah Ah, now wonder i hadn't found many in the tops of reeds. And they make a slit in reed stems to hide their eggs - very clever.

The sun was shining well this afternoon so called in on Abington Meadows for a walk and a few photos. I was pleased that they have started to fence it off now and make it secure, hopefully using some of the money i raised.

Not too many hoverflies around but managed to see quite a few Helophilus pendulus on the daisies.

and the mayflies (Ephemera vulgata) are still around even though it is late June.

Never seen a Bee Orchid before and there were a few specimens just going over - very pretty!

A good start to the blog!