Simon Rose

Lots of Orange Tip mating and laying on today's transect at Alvecote Pools.

Managed to squeeze in a butterfly transect at the Hollies between showers this afternoon. First Green-veined White of the year on this transect and some Brimstone eggs, that have been laid on the Alder Buckthorn that we planted a few weeks ago.

Hannah's first Snake's Head Fritillaries and her first Hooded Merganser on the same evening.

Blackcap singing from the hedgerow at Bramcote this morning.

Brown Hare from my walk down to Bramcote this morning.

First Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail of the spring at the Straight Fields, Birchmoor this morning.

A smart male Chaffinch singing at Mill Pool, Alvecote.

One of many singing Chiffchaff at the Hollies this afternoon.

Barn Owl box installed this morning and some Hazel planted at the Hollies this afternoon.

Hooded Merganser on Mill Pool, Alvecote yesterday evening.

The Hooded Merganser at Alvecote flew across Mill Pool this morning. Fortunately I was focused on the birdbefore it flew giving me fantastic views. Definitely no rings as I saw both legs well. Hopefully this photo will help with ageing and with establishing if its the Avon bird.

Great to get back to some transecting this week. It was great to see some flowers blooming alongside the Anker at Abbey Green after last year's clearing and sewing.

Corn Bunting. One of the sounds of summer evenings for me, lovely 🤎 We should be concentrating on saving Farmland birds rather than messing around with Sea Eagles, Cranes & Storks imo. I guess CB’s aren’t poster birds though. 🙄

Willow Warbler from Mill Pool, Alvecote this evening.

My first Holly Blue of the year from today's transect at the Hollies.

Not quite warm enough today for my first transect at Alvecote Pools but there were some butterflies on the wing when the sun showed itself. My first Small Tortoiseshell and Orange Tip of the spring.

Great to get John's Barn Owl/Kestrel box installed at Alvecote Pools this morning. Maybe a bit late for it to be used this year but will hopefully be used in the coming years.

Over the past couple of weeks, me and John have been sewing a wildflower/grass mix at the Hollies. It contains 21 British native wildflower species, including Betony, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Ragged Robin and Devil's-bit Scabious. All species that are suitable for the acidic soil.

We've sewn some more wildflower seeds at Abbey Green this morning, where this Ragged Robin was the first to flower this spring. And we planted another six Alder Buckthorn at the Hollies this afternoon.

@keithwarmie Great photo, Keith!

Stoat in full flight today near Ringstead, Norfolk.