When I set off for work this morning it was a grey and drizzly day but the sun has come out! I popped down to the reserve a bit earlier to drop some bits off. As there wasn’t a vehicle free I decided to cycle down. With my new panniers packed with colouring in sheets and posters I set off down the road. My offer to go and drop these bits off was totally selfless of course, but as I pootled along in the sun I was very glad the van wasn’t available.
There was lots to see from the visitor centre. Our swallows are still about, swooping right past the windows. Young house martins are also among them (look for the white rump).
I walked down to the 360 hide and saw lots of insects including some massive dragonflies! I stopped to look in the ditch just before the 360 hide in case the water voles were out. A visitor even saw a kingfisher flying along that ditch the other day so I had my fingers crossed. Unfortunately I didn’t have too much time to stop and look, but I’m sure I’ll be there again soon and you never know!
I then went into the hide and as I was sharpening the pencils, all the birds on the scrapes and the reedbed suddenly took off. We looked for the cause of the upset but couldn’t see anything. We’ve had a couple of peregrines on the reserve the last couple of days so I wonder if it was one of those. There are lots of flowers providing splashes of colour throughout the reserve at the moment and cycling back I noticed all the bindweed amongst the hedgerow. I know bindweed is a total nightmare in your garden but it is a beautiful flower.
Tomorrow we’ve got our family fun day! Come along to have your face painted, make apple feeders, paint beautiful butterflies and have a go at other craft activities. Hope to see you there!