A walk out to the Lees and beyond today and a little warmer than of late.
The “long ditch” out beyond the Lees was dredged over the winter and subsequently all the growth in and around the ditch was either disrupted or destroyed.
There are no birds breeding along the ditch this year and it seems the Reed Buntings that bred along the ditch have moved out into the crop fields (5 singing males). A lot of the Bullrush, Reed and other plants that were in the ditch have been destroyed but some of the plants on the bank have survived. Any larvae or other life that was in the ditch has also been partially destroyed.
However nature has a way of coming back!
Several Dragonfly species seen along the ditch and a few small fish present (probably Stickleback) and a few Orchid species along the bank.
The “Reedy ditch” at the far end had 5 singing Sedge Warbler and 3 singing Reed Warbler (plus others present) present along with several Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.
A family group of Swallow spent time feeding over the area (2 adults & 5 young) and a few Swift overhead and a distant Grey Heron.
From Alan: 2 Common Tern again on the river and Lesser Whitethroat.
Mammals: Brown Hare.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, 4-spot Chaser and Emperor Dragonfly. Per Alan: Brown Hawker and White-legged Damselfly.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Large White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Marbled White and Meadow Brown. Per Alan: Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Marbled White, Small Copper and Large Skipper.
Moths: Cinnabar Moth and Scarlet Tiger. Per Alan: Burnet Companion.
Insects: Black and Yellow Long
Horn Beetle. Per Alan.
Orchids: Pyramid Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and Poss Marsh Orchid hybrid.
Reed Warbler
Emperor Dragonfly
Burnet Companion
Common Spotted Orchid
Scarlet Tiger
Small Tortoiseshell
Large Skipper
4-spot Chaser
Azure Damselfly
