April showers

Another walk round Brockholes reserve. Our team of hymenoptera surveyors was supposed to be here this week, but the low temperatures meant a slight change of plan. The first thing you notice is the floating Visitor Village - very impressive. Our regular skylark was joined by another in a greeting duet and as we passed by the car park a whole carpet of mouse ear and several cowslips were coming in to bloom. As we approached the river with its accompaniment of chattering sand martins, a brown hare ran downstream on the river bank. Pineapple may weed was just in flower and we also found a recently used badger latrine. On to chaffinch alley where the tree sparrows were also evident and bursting through the dense grass, ground ivy was an interesting find. The blackcaps and chiffchaffs were in fine song and today it was good to hear an added willow warbler. Cuckoo flower was also starting to show its delicate lilac shades. The woodland was fantastic due to the abundant bluebells.

 These combining with wood sorrel, wood anemone, saxifrage, celandine and plethora of birdsong made this area very special. Other members of the Wildlife Trust workforce were completing direction signs and finishing off some bird hides. One of our group noticed some dock leaf beetles ensuring the species continuation, but we felt it voyeuristic to continue to watch such an intimate moment.

 Spotting some birds nests is always a difficulty, but finding a spider's was great. The rain made seeing birds somewhat difficult but we were able to make out lapwings, redshank, mute swan, great crested grebe, Canada geese and little ringed plover. The rain ensured a quicker walk than previous but it was good to get back and dry off.