Spring

There is no story or theme to the blog unless it can all be encompassed as Spring!

Spring is well on its way and this is reflected in the many different greens on the trees, interspersed with the white blossom of Bird Cherry and the new ruby coloured leaves of Beech.

The bridge rails are usually full of a variety of bugs and beasties, but so far this spring few have been spotted.  It may be that I am just very impatient!  Careful scrutiny did reveal a large female and the much smaller male Alder Fly.

Further on a different stonefly to the normal ones seen was also spotted.  It was larger and had patterend wings.

A Dryad's Saddle fungus has regrown on a tree where it was found two years ago.

Male Orange Tip butterflies can be seen flitting through the new spring vegetation, rarely stopping for a photograph.  Whilst busy examining the orchard trees I realised that at my feet was a female Orange Tip on a Cuckoo flower and not only did she remain there I could see that she had an orange coloured egg on the stem of the plant.

Most of the female Mallards are sitting on their nests, whilst the males take life easy.  Preening is very important to keep plumage in prisitine condition.

Feeding is needed to keep up their strength when all those pesky ducklings invade the lake!

To finish the blog some dates for your diary.  If you wish to visit the flowers of Foxglove Covert there is a guided walk on Thursday 17th May starting at 10am.  For an earlier start, 5am, then it is not too late to book onto the Birdsong Breakfast on Saturday 19th May.  And finally the Foxglove Coffee Morning will be held in Richmond Town Hall on Thursday 14th June.  There are more details on the events page.

Well almost to finish the blog.  Concentrating on the pony heading towards me I took the photograph.  Downloaded I saw that I had a right angled Exmoor Pony!