Warblers

An early walk around the reserve this morning produced ; -
16 Chiffchaff
13 Blackcap
12 Willow Warblers
1 Reed Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
1  Whitethroat
All singing males I also saw 4 female Blackcaps, 4 Gooseander (1m and 3 f) , 3 Male reed bunting + the usual residents....

Bempton Trip Roundup on Offsite Page.

If you would like to see a taste of the Great Day out we had at Bempton, there's a little roundup on the Offsite page.
A lot of the Birds were coming in so close you could have used macro lenses to photograph them. Any camera would have got you at least a few great pictures.

Black cap collecting nest material near the lagoon today

Mink on the river today

Getting to like this place thanks to the helpful members ie Graham Alan Steve to name but a few

A kestrel was looking for lunch today on the pylon near the feeders

From The Undergrowth

Part 2

Robin in dappled light

Robin

Male Bullfinch

Reed Bunting

ditto

And finally my favorite 

Hope you enjoy them click on the image for a better view. gwh

From The Undergrowth

Not posted very much lately so here are a few from the last couple of weeks.

Butter burr coming into full bloom

A pair of small Tortoiseshell mating

Stag Roe Deer

ditto

Robin

ditto

ditto

Male Reed Bunting

ditto

ditto

(Tuffty)  Jay

Male Gooseander going like the clappers

ditto

Male Bullfinch

dito

Jenny Wren

Wren with nesting meterial

ditto

 

Hope yoyu enjoy the pictures 

click on the images for a better view.  gwh

Breezy Morning

Work Party 11th of April 2015.

Allan, Barry, Bella, Bruce, David, Garry, Graham, Julian, Mike, Richard, Robin, Stuart and Sue came along to the work party, apologies for any omission. The day started a little wet but rapidly cleared up and became sunny and dry. Morning tea/coffee was had in the Cabin - Thanks Graham, we must buy you a suitable pinafore.

The car park was repaired and lots and lots of Hazel, Blackthorn and Hawthorn saplings were planted on the North Loop bund. Migrants birds seen were Swallow and Sand Martin. Things are beginning to "hot up" now on the reserve with plenty nest boxes already spoken for.

Pictures to follow

Field mouse and a dropped fat ball under the car park feeders

NEWT NIGHT

Quite a few people attended the evening, 35 visitors + ourselves were present.
A nice gent brought a few Great Crested newts in for us to look at, he is licensed to own & handle them of course.
We managed to find a few newts trying to dodge the torches, & I managed to borrow a net off somebody & scooped a Female Palmate Newt out for all to see.
A few of the younger ones seemed to really enjoy letting it sit in their cupped hands, where it seemed to be really relaxed, enjoying the warmth from our bodies I guess.
Robin had some Bat detection gear & quite a few bats were zipping about the Bailey Bridge on the way back, where surprisingly there wasn't any screaming due to all the big spiders lurking on the bridges metalwork!
The ladies didn't seem to be afraid either! hahaha.

The female Palmate newt I netted looking for some more warm hands to sit on!

 

 A moth was nearly stood on sitting on the floor of the Bridge - Apparently an Early Tooth-striped Moth - Thanks Andy!

 

 

One of the hundreds of "Bridge Spiders" that came out after dark!

 

The special ones .......

Great Crested Newts - Pair, Female & Male kindly displayed for a good look.

The visitors seemed to enjoy their night out & I think everyone got to see whatever they had come for.

Margaret has passed a few pictures for adding so:

 Some of the people gathered round our Newt Man before the walk, taken by a tall person me-thinks!

 The Man himself showing off a Great Crested Newt & visitor trying to get a look at it.

 One of the Newts top

One of the Newts belly - very bright colours they have.

 Everyone spread out looking for their own newts.

I'm sure there's a newt here somewhere!

A Bat Detector in Action