TWO! male Beautiful demoiselle damselflies on site -- first for the site -- do hope there are females also. 1 large red damselfly also. New hatching of ducks, and the little white drake must have had something to do with these, as 2 are yellow. 2 male Reed warblers still on site, joined by a third which as not singing is presumably and hopefully female. Thursday the swans came out with their babies -- 5 so far and maybe more to come. By Sunday they were proudly escorting 8 cygnets-, the most we have ever had. First poppies out on Butterfly meadow, and everything covered in the delicate fallen blossoms of Elder and Guelder rose, brought down in the squally rain. The Vipers bugloss has begun to bloom and is gorgeous. Tony reports that the fox has been in his allotment and killed his old ducks and 2 sitting Mallard ducks as well.
Kingfisher visiting site regularly, also Grey wagtail. Purple loosestrife coming out -- gorgeous. Oxeye daisies everywhere on Butterfly meadow. Great frog on Sensory Garden seemed to enjoy being watered for a while. Stump of felled split Goat willow on Shady Place has sprouted at last, as has the Spindle stump. Mark has taken some superb photos of Damselflies so we will be able to confirm ident 100%. Had a quick fly past of probable Banded demoiselle, and the others looked like Blue-tailed, Large red and Common blue. We'll see.
On site this weekend -- Christa reports Muntjac. Seen last and this weekend Spotted flycatcher: pair. Damselflies too far away for ident, but they were one of the Blue-tails. Butterflies:- Whites, Comma, Painted Lady, Meadow brown and Tortoiseshell.
Young Heron on site, as usual, 'afeart a naebody.' Butterflies -- Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Comma, Tortoiseshell and whites. Damselflies, Beautiful and Banded demoiselles. Newly hatched ducklings on Mere. Plants newly flowering Field Scabious, Chicory, Basil, Maiden pink, Musk mallow, Monkshood, Oenothera, Meadow cranesbill, thymes and sages.