I'm not sure if this red grouse is hiding or just being cautious in coming forward, but either way I really like this image by Tom Marshall. It certainly puts a smile on my face this Monday morning!

You can also check out other wildlife in hiding on RSPB Images.

Now we all know that if there’s one thing us Brits like to talk about it’s the weather! So just what is going on this year? We’ve seen parts of the UK in drought and other parts in flood.

But what does it all mean for our wildlife? We asked reserve staff up and down the UK what it meant for the wildlife on their reserves. This is what they said:

Total washout

The Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire should now be a patchwork of grassland and pools.

But Jon Reeves, Site Manager, says that currently it’s looking like ‘a giant inland sea’. Now this is great for the passing terns, but not so good for the breeding waders and ducks. All 600 pairs of breeding waders, and 800 pairs of ducks, have been washed out. Many of the waders are currently looking to relocate, but things are looking tough.

It’s a similar story from just down the road at the Nene Washes. Charlie Kitchin remarks: ‘The year-long drought that so badly affected the 2011 breeding season and meant last winter was dry with few wildfowl came to a dramatic end in April. A flood has all but wiped out the nesting season. Hopefully the birds will have time to nest again if the flood water recedes quickly.’

Wet underfoot

In north-west Wales, nestled next to the River Conwy lies the Conwy reserve itself. ‘We’ve missed the worst of the weather and, although it’s a bit wet underfoot, nothing that’s really affecting wildlife except that we’ve barely seen any butterflies’ Site Manager Julian Hughes comments. He’s also happy that the recent rain will make it easier for thrushes etc to find food, as the soil isn’t as rock hard as it’s been in recent springs.

Wrong kind of rain!

‘It’s the wrong kind of rain!’ says Julian Nash, Site Manager of our North Kent reserves. Although, like the other Julian in Wales, he’s pleased that it’s alleviated the recent drought conditions: ‘The rainfall has really helped maintain conditions for breeding waders at a key time.’ So why’s it the wrong type? ‘Persistent heavy rain can kill off young wader chicks, particularly lapwings, as they can’t keep warm enough. However, so far, we’re not seeing this, so fingers crossed’.

Good for the ducks

A big wetland restoration project was completed last year on our Loch Leven nature reserve, with the aim of improving the site for breeding waders.

Reserve Warden Vicky Turnbull tells us how the weather is affecting their first breeding season with the improved wetland: ‘Our early spring lasted for two whole weeks, and I was very worried the reserve would dry out half way through the breeding season. But then the rain came and it hasn't stopped much since – our wetland's looking great, just how we want it. We did lose one lapwing nest to flooding, but other than that the rain's really helped. We want lots of mud for the waders and their chicks, and the ducks like it too.’

Let us know

Despite all this rain it’s worth remembering that parts of south and East of England are still classified as in a drought. So it’s really important to keep conserving water.

How’s the weather affecting the wildlife in your garden or local reserve? Has the drought dried you out, or the rain turned your garden into a bog? Leave a comment and let us know.

RSPB nature reserves aren’t just great for birds. Amongst the mammals, insects, reptiles and arachnids, over the years we’ve recorded a grand total of 57 species of butterflies – that’s most of those recorded in the UK.

Save Our Butterflies Week

Butterflies are amazing creatures. I love spotting one flutter past on a spring or summer’s day – it’s truly a sign that warmer weather is here. And our nature reserves are a perfect place for hungry caterpillars to grow strong and then, almost miraculously, turn into adults.

So to help celebrate Butterfly Conservation’s Save our Butterflies Week, we’re running some events on a selection of our reserves. The week starts on 19 May and is celebrating the beauty of butterflies and promoting ways to stop their decline. Take a look at the Butterfly Conservation events page for all Save our Butterflies Week events, including those on our reserves.

Good spots

Even if there isn’t a Save our Butterflies Week event on a reserve near you, there’s still plenty of other reserves where you can look out for butterflies. There’s a full list of good spots on our website, but below are a few selected ones.

Try Strumpshaw Fen, just outside Norwich, for the majestic swallowtail. In this swathe of broadland, the best time to see this large, fast-flying beauty is from late May to early July. The Norfolk Broads is the only place in the UK where you’ll regularly encounter them, and Strumpshaw is well worth a trip.

Ancient woodland

The ancient woodland of Blean Woods in Kent is also a butterfly hotspot. Here, the caterpillars of the rare heath fritillary feed on cow-wheat, before the orange and brown adults take to the air from late May. However, the first adult was seen on May 12 this year, so the reserve is expecting an earlier peak than last year’s. So why not take a visit in the next couple of weeks?

Heading into Wales, there’s Cwm Clydach, a peaceful woodland north of Swansea. It’s only a small reserve, but on a summer’s walk you could easily spot a silver-washed fritillary or a speckled wood.

Somewhere better known for its winter flocks of ducks and geese is Loch of Strathbeg. However, the dunes are alive with flowers in summer. Amongst the impressive display of dog violet you can spot a range of butterflies, including the dark green fritillary. The UK’s commonest fritillary is actually named for colour of its underwings – it’s actually mainly orange and brown on top.

Butterflies in your garden

Of course, you don’t need to go to a reserve to spot butterflies. If you want to encourage more of them into your own garden, it’s surprisingly simple. Visit our Homes for Wildlife pages and sign-up for free advice tailored to your garden. Who knows, next year we could be saying the best place to see them is your garden!

Do you get many butterflies in your garden? How do you attract them? Are you planning on getting out looking for them over the next week? Leave a comment below and let me know....

Well after two glorious days the rain has returned with a vengeance to my part of the world. So for this week's Monday Moment, I thought I'd share what happens when rain and sun mix.

Mike Lane took this great image of a rainbow, I just love the colours brightening up an otherwise grey day. I hope it does the same for you too.

This is one of thousands of fantastic wildlife, countryside and everything else in between images you can find on RSPB Images. You can buy them all as prints too!

This weekend, my recommendation is that you go for a stroll and enjoy something really simple: the array of beautiful new green leaves which have emerged. 

If the sun's out, there's nothing brighter than the zingy lime-green of delicate miniature baby leaves. And it's those leaves which will sustain so much of the food chain in our woodlands over the coming month. 

Leaves are everywhere, of course, but if you fancy a trip out somewhere, we've got loads of nature reserves to choose from.

Have a great weekend!