HS2 Petition.

With 'notice to proceed' delayed again, halt all HS2 enabling work immediately. 

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/255413 

29th April..... Young Blackbirds.

Mother blackbird bringing her chicks closer to the house showing them the bird table maybe, also the female great spotted woodpecker came close for a drink. Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis. 

27th April..... Green Woodpecker.

Watching the blackbirds on Saturday afternoon, there are two pairs around the garden and sometimes they tolerate each other, at other times it's like watching formula one as they chase each other round and round.  Two well grown young blackbirds turned up.

While we were watching these  my wife spotted a green woodpecker land on the fence rails and hop down into our little wild area. I had an idea where it was heading for and managed to watch it for maybe five minutes anting.
Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

26th April..... Large Red Damselfly.

I noticed an insect land near the pond around 10 Thursday morning so stepped outside to have a look. A fresh Large Red Damselfly, I checked the field guide. Then I looked for the case of the larvae which it had emerged from and found another damselfly that had just emerged and was pumping its body to expand its body and wings. Watched it on and off all morning slowly getting bigger and slowly climbing higher up the vegetation. It stayed where it was all night and was still there at 7.30 but had gone by 1.00pm. Also in the garden watched a weasel Wednesday and Friday, while looking at the pond noticed a male smooth newt in full breeding condition, with its full crest and coloured up.
Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

23rd April..... Dancing Grebes.

Making the most of the last dry day according to the forecast went to Wilstone reservoir and took the

footpath from the west corner towards the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union canal. Again more butterflies seen before reaching the canal including peacock, tortoiseshell and more orange tip. Turned right along the towpath towards the Grand Union and found the path blocked for a while by a heron.

Sedge warblers singing on the opposite side of the canal and mainly well hidden but one showed itself as it returned from a short display flight.

Freshly turned out suckler cows were busy grazing and by the bellowing of the cows left inside they were not happy.

Carried on along the canal until we reached the Bluebell café at Startop's End reservoir passing many narrow boats both moored and on the move.

Passed a lesser black-backed gull on Tringford reservoir.

Soon after watched a male blackcap with nesting material and a female appeared in the same area. The highlight of the day was on Wilstone where a pair of great crested grebe were performing their dancing courtship ritual. The pair started to call to each other then swam towards each other with a series of dance moves with head bobs and shakes.

More calls and then they both dived and surfaced with vegetation in their beaks and rushed towards each other across the surface of the water, paddling frantically. Amazing to watch and so close. Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

22nd April..... Nesting Material.

While out with Don on Sunday I picked up a handful of sheep wool to bring home for birds to use as nesting material and it didn't take long before a blue tit found it. 

On Sunday birds were constantly in the pond including this dunnock.

A short hot walk Monday; came across a pair of blackcaps busy feeding close by, but the walk  again was noted for butterflies including several holly blue.

Small white.

In the garden honey bees and a queen wasp were also busy around and hopefully pollinating the whitecurrant bush.

Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

We seemed to have been constantly opening the windows to release Honey Bees that were trying to find they're way through the glass, during the course of the weekend.

Don.

21st April..... Mallards.

The Mallards are still visiting our ponds on a daily basis; it's amazing how they have become use to our presence since their first appearance over two months ago; when they would take flight no sooner had we stepped out from the house; now they tolerate us; spending hours loafing on & by the water; even the dog now takes them for granted.

Bullfinches are brightening up the day.

Don.

21st April..... Pitstone Hill & College Lake.

We spent about an hour on the Hill; arriving at 7-20am, first bird seen being a Corn Bunting 'jangling' from the top of  bush (2 more seen later). The songs of Skylarks filled the air, with possibly 20 birds, either singing from on high or chasing each other at ground level. Yellowhammers sang from Hawthorn bushes where they're colouring, gave them excellent camouflage in the morning sun.

A hand full of Meadow Pipits perched on the top of the few remaining low bushes, quite why the National Trust have massacred the scrub I don't understand, they could have taken out a few of the bushes at a time. Stewart spotted a male Stonechat low down on the fence line, flew to the ground, where it performed a kind of wing quivering display, in the manner of a Dunnock. Flew further along the fence where it was joined by a female, the pair accompanying each other as they ranged over the hillside perching on top of the few remaining stems of vegetation. A pair of Long-tailed Tits continually returned to a particular Bramble bush. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff & Blackcap were all in song.
View of College Lake from the Octagon Hide.

3 Reed Warblers sang from the reed fringed ditch, along the path to the Octagon Hide.

As did 3 Willow Warblers.
From the hide this single Little Ringed Plover could be seen at close quarters as it made it's way up the grass bank.

At the waters edge a Redshank  revealed the ring on it's right leg, as it engaged in a bit of scratching.

A pair of Canada Geese were protective of their recently hatch young.
Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone/Stewart Dennis.

20th April..... Butterflies.

An unseasonably hot walk  Saturday morning didn't produce many birds but plenty of butterflies. Good numbers of brimstones and orange tip butterflies. The orange tips were constantly on the move, but the brimstones ( the females a lot paler than the males )  and the single comma, holly blue and tortoiseshell did settle long enough for me to take a photo. Stewart. 

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.