If we had such a thing as the ‘Blashford Lakes Star Visitor of the Day Award’ it would definitely go to Judith Atkinson today! At lunchtime she came in to the Education Centre to present me with a bag of rubbish that she had collected on her walk from the bus stop to Moyles Court.
Litter picked by Judith Atkinson
It is likely that most of this rubbish has been thrown by people from passing cars, but we do often find ourselves collecting litter from in and around the hides too. I was quite shocked by how much she had found so wanted to share it with you as a visual reminder of the importance of taking litter home with you! A big thank you to Judith for her amazing efforts today!
This afternoon I headed out for a stroll to the further flung hides of the nature reserve however I couldn’t resist a quick photo of the stunning primroses in the carpark before I left.
Primroses
Along the Dockens Water path the bluebells are at the brink of blooming.
Bluebells along the Dockens Water
Amongst them is a carpet of lesser celandine which had unfortunately closed up as the sun had disappeared behind the clouds. The Town Hall Clock is still flowering, this is one of my favourite spring flowers but you have to look closely to appreciate why it is so special. Each flower head is made up of 5 flowers displayed like the faces of clocks on a clock tower, hence the name. It is also known as Moschatel.
Town Hall Clock or Moschatel
The Lords and Ladies are also beginning to flower. Their flower spike attracts flies for pollination by releasing a urine-like odour!
Lords and Ladies
Over the last week the trees seem to have sprung to life with their leaves breaking bud and their brilliant green is now filling the woodlands, in particular the beech trees by the Dockens Water are quite spectacular.
Beech trees
And the willow seed pods are all set to burst…
Willow seed pods
Willow seeds
The path up to Lapwing Hide has finally dried up and is once again usable.
Path by Lapwing Hide
There is an incredible display of daisies out in front of Lapwing Hide and out along the spit, it looks like we have had a dusting of snow! The photo is a bit blurry as it was taken through my binoculars but there are Egyptian geese and greylag geese feeding on the spit and a coot, wigeon and Egyptian goose swimming in the foreground.
Daisies and geese
Thank you to David Cuddon for sending in these photographs taken on the 25th April, evidence that some sand martins have been checking out our sand martin wall!
Sand Martins by David Cuddon
Reed Warbler by David Cuddon
Grey Wagtail by David Cuddon
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 