Rain Drops Again!

It was still dark this morning as the bird ringers arrived. Bats were catching their last insects before roosting for the day.  Dark clouds gave way to drizzle, then heavy drizzle, then rain.  Obviously the weather had not read the forecast, it was supposed to be dry all day!  

Rowan leaves were covered with water droplets.

During the drizzle and rain the nets were checked constantly and the birds returned to the ringing room.  Thankfully the rain did not last too long.

A trip onto the heath to investigate a pink flower, found Bell Heather blooming and a bee braving the damp and cold to collect pollen.

Yellow Flag Iris brightened up the Scrapes.  The brown markings are honey guides for insects, directing them to the nectar.

 With the warm and damp weather the grasses are growing.  This Yorkshire Fog grass is turning areas of the reserve pink/purple.

It was a CES ringing day (Constant Effort Site) and over a 100 birds were processed, including 61 new birds.  A visitor remarked in the middle week that it was probably a little early for young woodpeckers to be out and about.  Those few days made a difference as three youngsters received their rings today.  Many Great Tits were ringed in nest boxes and 25 of them arrived in the ringing room sporting their rings.  It was good to see that they were doing well.  Amazingly twelve new Bullfinch were ringed. 

The vegetation was wet this morning but the neatly cut paths around the reserve ensured that the bird ringers did not get too wet.  Thank you to those volunteers who spent much of their time this week strimming and mowing.  Thanks also to the bird ringers who gave their time today and of course, not forgetting those other volunteers who supported them.  What ever goes on at Foxglove is a team effort.  Well done and thank you.