A Busy Day for Some

Before we begin today's blog an update on the Brambling ringed elsewhere.  We received details that the bird was ringed at Stillington Woodland Park, Stockton, Stockton-on-Tees, by the Tees Ringing Group.  It was 1113 days since it was last recorded.  The distance is rather misleading as this bird will have been to Scandinavia  and back several times, however it is only 36 km from where it was ringed to Foxglove.

Down on the lake all was quiet.  The Tufted Ducks also known as 'Tufties' have returned to the lake and were taking life easy.

On the bank the male Mallards were also taking life easy with a little bit of preening to sort out those feathers.  Most of the females will be hidden away on nests.  Rearing the young is the female's responsibility.

Back in the Field Centre conversations over lunch were loud so that people could be heard over the buzzing of the bees.  There was certainly no taking it easy for them!  Many were returning with full pollen sacs, after visiting probably the Willow flowers and possibly Gorse.  The photos taken through the glass are not very good but do give the idea of what was going on.  You can see that the pollen is different colours indicating different flowers visited.

Alison and Alister checked the bees this week and said that there were some drone cells to be seen, so we have to watch for a queen cell and then the likelihood is that they will swarm!  Watch this space!

Volunteers were also busy making cakes for the coffeee morning on Thursday 14th at Richmond Town Hall.  Others were busy sorting everything to go to the coffee morning, from raffle prizes to tombola prizes, and anything from tea towels and tablecloths to pens, sticky labels and blutac and much more!

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the coffee morning, prizes, baking and help are all appreciated.