It was a slow drive to work across the Forest this morning and the view over Ibsley Water was fairly non-existent:
The view from Tern Hide at 8.45am…
4 hours later it was a very different scene indeed!
The same view from Tern Hide at 2pm!
Everything was fairly distant, but lovely to see all the lapwing that have started gathering on the shore line – mostly on the spit and grassy eastern bank this afternoon but last night they were much closer to Tern Hide around the little island in particular.
Bittern was present again at Ivy North Hide, where this morning when I opened up a goldeneye was an unusual record for Ivy Lake – a handsome drake.
Lesser redpoll and brambling were both seen on and off from the Woodland Hide during the day and they and the sunshine have been delighting everyone!
Apparently Blashford snowdrops were the photo leading the BBC weather last night – I missed it so here is my offering that you are unlikely to see on the BBC! The wild daffodils which are now flowering outside Woodland Hide are my spring favourite though:
Last nights “Night Senses” event went well, although there was a disappointing lack of stars. The cloud cover bought the evening temperature back up however so we did see a few moths around the light trap – they were much easier to photograph this morning in daylight however!
Should be nice again tomorrow so expecting another busy day – if you are joining us remember your purse/wallet so you can take advantage of the treats available from the Pop up café in the classroom from 10am-3.30pm!
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 
Hi Jim n Co…. With the sunshine came the Adder today…..A good number  of fresh out males were basking making the most of the warm spring rays…..kind regards JC
It was that kind of a day – hadn’t heard about the males, though it doesn’t surprise me. What was a surprise was a report I had later in the afternoon of a female adder basking on top of one of our survey felts as they normally don’t emerge until well after the males. Thanks for your observations John!