It seems to have been a week with a lot going on, the phalarope’s three day stay has pleased the birders, although it has now left us. Meanwhile we have been clearing fallen trees from near Ivy North which should please everyone who uses the hide as it should be possible to see quite a lot more. Further and perhaps even more widely welcomed, will be the news that the main track to the Centre and path to Ivy North and Woodland hides have been improved with a newly rolled surface.
The view from Ivy North was:
View from Ivy North before
It is now:
View from Ivy North after clearance of fallen trees.
The path surface is now as good as new.
Resurfaced path to Ivy North
Although the phalarope has gone and I managed to miss the reported osprey, garganey and common swift, my day was not entirely without wildlife. We had lunch accompanied by our regular, and now very smart looking robin.
Freshly moulted and now very smart
There was also a fine southern hawker flying about us and it briefly landed, allowing a quick shot.
southern hawker
The last few nights have been very warm and numbers of moths have picked up, although the range of species has not been that large. A few autumn species are starting to show up, with rosy rustic and pink-barred sallow a sure sign of the moving seasons.
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 