3 May 24

RSPB Radipole Lake - North Hide only

It was another short walk today to stretch my legs, this time from where I parked my car in Goldcroft Avenue here, to the North Hide here and back. The good thing about the North Hide is that there are several benches to rest your legs.

Highlights at the hide were 50+ Sand Martins, with dozens collecting nesting material from within the hide itself. Also noted was a male Marsh Harrier coming into land and a few warblers singing.


Birds Recorded:
2 Grey Heron
3 Mute Swan
1 Canada Goose
1 Mallard
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Water Rail (heard)
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
50+ Sand Martin
2 Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
5 Reed Warbler
4 Cetti's Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A female Marsh Harrier over Radipole.........

...........circles a bit..........

..........and then.........

...............drops down into the reedbeds. (Sound track courtesy of xeno-canto)

These Sand Martins were.......

............collecting nesting material within the North Hide itself and........

............then flying back...........

...............to their man-made nest site here.

Butterflies Recorded:
2 Large White
3 Small White
3 Red Admiral

A Small White on a Cuckooflower.

And a Red Admiral

Hoverflies Recorded:
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)

A Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)

And The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria)

An Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria) and............

..................from a different angle.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:

Large Flax Flea Beetle (Aphthona euphorbiae)

A Large Flax Flea Beetle and...............

.................a pair making sure there are a few more next Spring.

Plants:

Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) 

This is Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) and.............

...........likes damp meadows and ditches. Well it's right at home on the reserve. More on this plant here.

And a Hawthorn in blossom. And also known as the May Tree. More on this tree here and here.

General Shots:

Plenty of cattle on........

.........the reserve. All we need now are a few Cattle Egrets.

Ted and Theo:

Ted's wondering how to get past the puddle. Theo's idea is to drink it, so Ted can get by!!

Here's another one Dad!!!

Don't leave me.