Walking around I have noticed the Hemp Agrimony is just coming into flower along the canal bank to join the Meadowsweet that has been in bloom for some weeks and the first Purple Loostrife is just coming out, a sign that summer is well and truly established. The red poppies that were covered in bees have gone over but there has been a fresh emergence of Common Darter and these are playing around the brambles that are setting well with blackberries.
Walking along the canal to the song of the Skylark, a female Mallard appeared with 3 very new ducklings. With all the Mallards in moult and there being absolutely no competition, sometimes these late families do well, lets hope so! Still five young swans, one flapped its wings this morning and I realised just how short and stubby these are. It must be months before a young swan develops any flight feathers and can fly. Suddenly, while standing watching the adult Coot teach its youngster how to preen, there was a flash of blue and a Kingfisher darted past me. With a swift 180 turn it came past me again and I watched it until it disappeared around the corner. I haven't seen a Kingfisher on the Canal since the cold weather of January... fantastic!
Moving on to the Sand Martins home I realised that they have stopped darting in and out of the nests of which there have been about 30. These brilliant little birds were buzzing about 4 feet above my head as they hawked for flies. 3 Green Sandpipers flew over and landed on a spit of land away to my right while juvenile Greenfinches, Whitethroat, Reed Buntings, Great Tits, Grey Wagtails and Blue Tits all jostled for space amongst the bushes.
I haven't seen the Roe Deer, having got only one picture from a distance, I am sure it will turn up again
Walking around I have noticed the Hemp Agrimony is just coming into flower along the canal bank to join the Meadowsweet that has been in bloom for some weeks and the first Purple Loostrife is just coming out, a sign that summer is well and truly established. The red poppies that were covered in bees have gone over but there has been a fresh emergence of Common Darter and these are playing around the brambles that are setting well with blackberries.
Walking along the canal to the song of the Skylark, a female Mallard appeared with 3 very new ducklings. With all the Mallards in moult and there being absolutely no competition, sometimes these late families do well, lets hope so! Still five young swans, one flapped its wings this morning and I realised just how short and stubby these are. It must be months before a young swan develops any flight feathers and can fly. Suddenly, while standing watching the adult Coot teach its youngster how to preen, there was a flash of blue and a Kingfisher darted past me. With a swift 180 turn it came past me again and I watched it until it disappeared around the corner. I haven't seen a Kingfisher on the Canal since the cold weather of January... fantastic!
Moving on to the Sand Martins home I realised that they have stopped darting in and out of the nests of which there have been about 30. These brilliant little birds were buzzing about 4 feet above my head as they hawked for flies. 3 Green Sandpipers flew over and landed on a spit of land away to my right while juvenile Greenfinches, Whitethroat, Reed Buntings, Great Tits, Grey Wagtails and Blue Tits all jostled for space amongst the bushes.
I haven't seen the Roe Deer, having got only one picture from a distance, I am sure it will turn up again
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