Lackford Nature Reserve

Lackford Lakes is a wildlife oasis with a landscape of lakes, reeds, meadow and woodland.  Today we had a Royal Photographic Society Nature group day out and we were blessed with sunshine that brought out the butterflies.  We saw a Harrier pass food to its partner, sadly it was a little chick.

Fermyn Woods

Called in to Fermyn Woods en route to the Global Bird Show but as the weather was unfavourable cold windy and below 16 degrees C there were no butterflies.  Even the gliders at the Gliding club had not tried to fly.  Fermyn Woods Country Park, Lyveden Rd, Brigstock, Kettering NN14 3HS

Willington and Sandy Pinnacle

Geranium Bronze Butterfly

The geranium bronze butterfly is native to South Africa. The butterfly was first introduced to Europe in the late 20th century, where it has quickly spread to many southern and eastern European regions. Since its introduction to Europe, the geranium bronze butterfly has become a pest to cultivated Pelargonium and Geranium plant species. Currently, efforts are being made to contain the spread of the geranium bronze butterflies as well as to determine the most effective pesticide for the species.

After hatching, the geranium bronze larvae feed on the flower buds, young leaves, and soft stems of their host plant, typically from the genera Pelargonium and Geranium. In order to eat the stem of these plants, the larvae drill into the stems, causing damage to the plants.

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Cacyreus
Species:	C. marshalli

Strumpshaw Fen on the River Yare in Norfolk RSPB

An early brood of ducklings raced across the pond catching the odd fly.  A wagtail caught a fly as the Coot

rushed by with a mouthful of flies.  Flying overhead, a Marsh harrier collected some nesting material and the Grelag goose savoured a juicy fly.

 

Lackford Lakes Suffolk Wildlife Trust

 I had not been to Lackford since they opened the double decker hide and the sightings proved to be interesting with a Harrier collecting nesting material to black headed gulls  bombing a Harrier and a Heron. The Canada geese were aggressive calling out to the heron and chasing the Munkjack.