Going's on in the garden

What's happening in the garden ? Quite a lot really

First of all the Wood pigeon nest didn't come to anything, but used as a roosting place I believe.  However a pair of Collard doves took a liking to my Wisteria  covered pagoda and nested. Not sure how many eggs were laid, didn't want to disturb or course distress, but at this moment in time they have two chicks sitting in the nest and growing by the day.

  
                                                         They make no sound at all.

                                       More Butterflies are coming into the garden.

                                                            click on to enlarge.

                                         Same Gatekeeper butterfly looking very fresh

 
                                                           The Underwing is lovely as well.

A litte trip out to Hythe Lagoons,Colchester

Friday 21st July:  

Hythe Lagoons on the River Colne at Colchester, a nature reserve managed by Colchester Borough council.

Unfortunately due to the very high temperatures of late and it was 34c when I visited !
The Lagoon had dried out completely, see below photograph.

One lonely Lapwing on the Lagoon.

Mute Swan on the River Colne.

But the find of the day was this Wasp Spider. A really lovely spider that thinks it is a wasp ! well its looks like one to fend off  predators. This one is a female owning to the size as the male is much smaller than this one. Totally harmless to humans, but for insects its the end and a dinner for the spider !

Still shall return another day when the rains come again. I'm sure this venue is a good place for waders in the winter and a stop off place for migrants during the Spring and Autumn passage.

R.S.P.B Stour Estuary Reserve.

First visit to Stour Wood which is part of The Stour Estuary RSPB reserve. 
A guided walk led by Liz Huxley.

Click on the photograph to enlarge

Lovely woodland walk through the corridors of the wood.

Rosebay Willow herb flowers growing among the lush ferns.

Flowering Sweet Chestnut tree.

 The trees are in full leaf and coverings have made the birds

 hard to see. Its nice and sunny, the wind has dropped, so out come

 the Butterflies, Dragonflies and other flying insects.

Ringlet Butterfly

Small White Butterfly in a ray of sunshine.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Silver - Washed Fritillary above and below.

 These are only a few of Butterflies seen, others seen 

Meadow Brown, Large White,

Gatekeeper, Speckled wood and Peacock.

Can't leave the Birds out, heard singing Blackcap, Wren,

 Blue tit, Great tit and  Blackbird.

Water Vole from Fingrinhoe Wick

The water voles were on the pond near the Kingfisher hide.
 A couple of photographs of a Water vole to finish off the day ( 4.7.18 ) These can be very shy and well hidden, however there were two together, but not close enough to photo together. They were having a good old feed on the shoots.

Fingrinhoe Wick reserve visit cont.

Inside of the reserve there are woods, glade walks and pools;

The ponds are alive with nature, like this one - click on photo to enlarge

A nice dipping pond for the children to see the creepy crawlies.

Single Common Blue damselfly

Three Common Blue Damselflies.

Above & below a Brown Hawker laying eggs

Broad- bodied Chaser

Fingringhoe Wick E.W.T. Reserve

Fingringhoe Wick is a 48.6 hectare nature reserve in Fingringhoe in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, which runs a visitor centre on the site. It is part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Wednesday 4th July …. a very nice visit to Fingringhoe Wick. Although I have visited the centre before, I have never had a walk around the reserve, so for two hours, a pleasant stroll.

Welcome to the centre … Adult and juvenile Swallow on the visitors centre roof.

 Photo's of some of the views inside of the reserve.

One of the wooded areas 

The Jetty information board

Jetty posts

A view from the Jetty to the other side of the River Colne.


Next a few of the photo's taken of Dragonflies etc 

Greenfinch

One of my favourite birds is the Greenfinch. Some years ago in the early 1970's I remember they were quite common and used to eat the cherries of my neighbours tree, there were cherry pips everywhere even landing on the hearth where the pips had fallen down the chimney.  Then the Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but increased dramatically during the 1990s.  The recent  decline of the much-loved Greenfinch is caused by a widespread and severe outbreak of a disease called trichomonosis, that was first seen in finches in the UK in 2005. It has led to dramatic declines in Greenfinch populations across much of England since, but I'm led to believe they are on their way up again....I really hope so !

I took these photo's today in my garden. 
Click on photo to enlarge

Greenfinch & House sparrow

                                                           
                                                              Greenfinch & Goldfinch

                                                      I was here first....it's my feeder !