Cones and Saxifrages….

In full bloom at Messingham today Meadow Saxifrage and pine cones also lots of Cowslips mostly flattened by photographers seen lying flat out on them!

Four-spotted Chaser

At last dragonflies were on the wing today with a few Four-Spots and Hairys whizzing round Messingham.

Green-winged Orchid - Anacamptis morio in N Lincs

Last time we went to look for Green-winged Orchid we found one flower spike, today there were hundreds!

 

Harris's Hawk.....

Just flown high south-east over the garden -  it's amazing what Wayne spots while gardening, but I first had this bird on Thursday while driving down Bagmoor Lane but was so worked up with the herbicide spraying that I forgot to mention it - well it has probably only come from the falconer who works Winterton tip.

Extremes….

Normanby Park’s woodlands are looking superb at the moment with Bluebells and wild Garlic in flower and indeed our own pond and garden are in full bloom with Wood Stitchwort, Yellow Archangel, Woodruff, Pink Campion, Cuckoo Flower and Marsh Marigold just a few of the plants at their spring best but just drive a half a mile away to the Normanby Estates Community Woodland and you will find the whole of the stretch of Bagmoor Lane sealed off with a sign “Caution keep off area sprayed with herbicide”, presumably the Blackcaps, Willow Warblers,  Chiffchaff,  Whitethroats,  Lesser Whitethroats,  Wrens and Robins which nest close to the ground were considered before this took place?

Bagmoor Lane

Pied Flycatcher, Messingham Sand Quarries

Just leaving the reserve this lunchtime when Wayne slammed the breaks on and shouted "Pied Flycatcher" and yes there in front of the car sitting in a hawthorne was a stunning male Pied Flycatcher!  Unfortunately after only a few more views and despite lots of searching  we could not relocated it so no photos.

Greater Scaup

This beautiful male Scaup turned up on our local pit on Sunday - it gave us the run around as it seemed to like commuting between a couple of pits.

Wood Anemones and Violets

The cold winter and late spring seem to have benefited the Wood Anemones this year, with carpets of them giving a beautiful display.

Early Purple Orchids North Lincolnshire

Finally a beautiful warm spring day with no wind meant we could get some sharp images of our local Early Purple Orchids - 87 plants in total.