By way of introduction...

Spent an enjoyable time walking around the reserve yesterday, despite dodging rain showers, puddles and mud - especially on the path down to the lagoon.  Highlights were mallard, moorhen and little grebe all out on the lagoon along with a coot sitting on a nest on the edge of the reed-bed.  Then, just below the weir, an adult dipper feeding a young one.  Incredible to see the adult diving into the water and popping back up only inches from where it went down - some real strength  not to get swept off downstream with the water as high and as fast-flowing as it was.

I've enjoyed coming down to the reserve for a year or more now to watch the birds and spend time behind my camera.  Finally thought I should join the group -  hence the title for this post.  Enjoy the photographs below which were taken over the past autumn and winter:

Male Bullfinch

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Female Chaffinch

Female Bullfinch

Blue Tit

                       

 Ric J

Wednesday's Work Party

Over 20 volunteers from Lloyds and the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group met on site to "Balsam Bash" and also to trim the riverside hedge and clean up some paths. A fine specimen of Poplar Hawk-moth. Laothoe populi was also found whilst the Balsam Bash was in full swing. We thank the Lloyds Volunteers for their valuable help with this essential work on the reserve.

The team assembles

and gets bashing

Poplar Hawk-moth. Laothoe populi

We made good progress. One of several clearings.

Part 2

Male Whitethroat

Who said sex does not  make your eyes bulge

Female Broadbodied Chaser

Large Red;s Mating

Crane fly

Large Red Damselfly

Northern Damselfly ? or possible Variable

Large Red

Variable Damselfly

Gwh

Hi all a few pictures below from this and last week ,  saw the Damsel and Dragonflies out in the wet areas and river path with Large Red , Common Blue , Azure, Blue Tail and a Female Broad Bodied Chaser, Birds are singing every where in the warm sunny weather , Dippers are in and out of the nest all the time now ,i suspect they are feeding young. Canada Geese x4 , Goosesander x2 Moorhen and Mallard all have chicks, Whitethroats  Song thrush, Wrens, Robins , Black Cap ,Warblers all belting there song out Garden Warbler on Monday down Tag Cut canal, and the first Orchid coming into flower, its a great time to be around the reserve . gwh

Part one

M&F Goosesander

Moorhen & chicks

Id anyone first thought was male Scaup but not sure. ?

M- Bullfinch

and F Bullfinch feeding on Dandelion heads

Kestrel

M  White throat

f  Orange Tip

M  Orange Tip

Canada Geese family

Wader Eggs and nest

Can these eggs be Identified?

Curlew, Lapwing ?

Picture taken on Pen- y - Ghent. Thanks Diane

Recently seen at Cromwell Bottom

The Butterfly's are: Small Copper, Male and female orange tip and Speckled Wood.  Red Damsel Flys. Alder Fly. Crane Fly. There are two types of Hover fly. (On willow catkin in pond and Dandelion) Helophilus pendulus and Syrphus ribesii. The flowers are Birdsfoot Trefoil and Yellow Rattle. 

The Bee could be a Tree Bumble Bee but I'm not sure if I took that on the reserve. I have put in the shot I took of the dipper flying along behind the weir. (taken on Bank holiday Monday. ) I think they are now feeding young as I saw both of them out feeding on Sat Morning and taking food in.  

Allan

 Alder Fly

Birdsfoot Trefoil 

Tree Bumble Bee ?

Tree Bumble Bee ?

Crane Fly

Dipper under the weir

 Helophilus pendulus

 Helophilus pendulus

Syrphus ribesii

Orange tip (F)

Orange tip (F)

Orange tip (M)

Red Damsel Fly

Red Damsel Fly

Small Copper

Speckled Wood

Yellow Rattle

Bird's nest results (or lack thereof )

Here are the results (so far) of the moths reared from the old birds' nest collected last December with the help of various members of the CB group.They say it's always worth recording negative records just as much as the positive ones so here they are - a measly handfull of White-shouldered House Moths (above)! A species many of us get in our homes from time to time. There's still an outside possibility of other species emerging but so far it's been a resounding damp squib.Maybe it's down to the nest boxes being a very recent addition to the area and the moths have yet to establish themselves?

Anyway, on a brighter note this Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (below) emerged this morning from a pupa reared from a larva found on one of the many Dog Rose bushes around Tag meadow. A common enough species no doubt but according to my records it's a new one for me so my camera got an unexpected workout this morning :-)