The Abington Park Heronry Part II

There have been some strange sounds coming from the heronry in Abington Park over the past week or so and the young birds are now showing themselves when the parents come back to the nest with food.

One nest is in clear view of the path and is approximately 2 metres above the water while the other nest is hidden from view. It's possible to see the birds whilst maintaining social distancing on the grass bank adjacent to the path for anyone fitting the criteria of 'exercising close to home' and could be combined with a trip to the supermarket without breaking any current government guidelines but please don't linger if they're not showing.

 Happy Easter and don't forget to send your garden wildlife shots to Robin or Nick, details here!

MEMBERS ENTRIES 4th Post.

Hi all, well here's another set of fabulous images.

I must apologise for the formal looking format of this blog but it's slowly driving me up the wall.
However I try to set out the images the blog seems to have its own way. I think it requires a good John Cleese Thrashing !

Titchwell marsh, John Showers.

Now I've got that off my chest take a look at these babies.

Red-billed Oxpecker, Dave Thomas. Botswana.

Parasol Mushroom, Bob Gill. Yardley Chase.

Great Green Bush-cricket, Peter Gilbert. Camargue.

Speckled Wood John Tilley. Yardley Gobion.

Nuthatch, Mark Williams. Abington Park

Dalmatian Pelican, Bob Mason. Lake Kerkini Greece

Tree Bumble Bee John Tilley. Yardley Gobion.

Swallow-tailed Gull Dave Thomas. Galapagos

Chinese Water Deer Bob Bullock. Titchwell 

'Squabbling' Grey Herons, Robin Gossage Camargue.

Seal Matt Hazleton. Skomer Island.

Green Hairstreak John Showers. Priors Hall Corby.

Redshank Alan Coles Summer Leys.

Common Buzzard Dave Jackson. Abington Park.

Red-headed Cardinal Beetle. Bob Gill

Lapwing Clive Bowley. Frampton Marsh.

Short-eared Owl Martin Swannell. Cambridgeshire.

Four-spotted Chaser Matt Hazleton. Summer Leys.

Tanzanian Butterfly Carol Wingate.  Olmotonyi Tanz.

Badger Bob Gill. Yardley Chase.

Please don't forget to send me any images of your garden wildlife whilst we are on lock-down.
I will display them for you on that page of the blog.
Also I look forward to receive any nice comments on any of the NBC Comp posted pictures.

Cheerz for now Robin.      now where's that branch.

Rutland Water Birdfair Cancelled

Message from the Birdfair Team;

It is with heavy hearts that after 31 successful years during which over £5million for nature conservation has been raised, we have made the difficult decision not to hold Birdfair 2020.

This iconic event, which was the first of its kind and the largest internationally, raises funds and awareness for international nature conservation from the creation of new national parks to saving species from the threat of extinction.

Even if public gatherings were to be given permission to go ahead later in the summer, we do not feel we could maintain our duty of care during this COVID-19 crisis, and delaying our decision further would only increase costs which would be difficult for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to bear.

But we are determined that we will be back for Birdfair 2021! We are already planning a new direction for the event, offering the 24,000 people who visit each year different ways of exploring how they can engage with wildlife and nature conservation, both within the UK and worldwide. We'll be sharing how these ideas are developing over the course of the year. In the meantime, we are exploring the possibility of holding a 'Digital Birdfair' – a chance to showcase speakers and discussions online; we hope to engage our existing supporters and find new audiences through this innovative communication channel this summer.

This will be a disappointment for Bird Club members who've visited and volunteered at the Birdfair over the years but I'm sure it will come as no surprise given the current uncertainty regarding travel etc.

A scene from a wet and muddy Birdfair 2019

MEMBER'S ENTRIES 3rd post

Hi all it's that man again, time for more super duper NBC foto comp pics.

Here goes,

Whooper Swan, John Tilley.  WWT Welney.

Short-toed Eagle. Bob Gill.  The Camargue

Blue Tit (in the rain), Robin Gossage.Fairburn Ings.

Spanish Sparrow Dave Jackson. Fueteventura.

Western Green Lizard, Peter Gilbert. Camargue, France.

Willow Emerald Bob Bullock. Barnwell CP.

Garden Spider, Carol Wingate. Overstone.

Migrant Hawker, Bob Bullock. Yardley Chase.

Blue Hound's-tongue, Peter Gilbert. Camargue.

Great White Egret, John Tilley. Summer Leys.

Lion cubs Bob Mason. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.

Osprey, Alan Coles. Hollowell Res.

Hawfinch, Mark Williams. Bulgaria.

Silver-washed Fritillary, Alan Coles. Bucknell Wood.

Stonechat, John Showers. Minsmere.



So I hope you all agree, another terrific set of images and all winners in my eyes. Cheerz for now, Robin. 

MEMBER'S ENTRIES 2nd Post.

Hi all, hope you're all still coping well with this self isolating.
I've been in lockdown  now for over 2 weeks and have only ventured out for food, that is until
yesterday. I decided to try some of Bernie Keith's exercises. Well everything began to hurt so
I just stayed with the bottom clench's.
Thinking there must be an easier way, I got the push bike out of retirement. After pumping up
the tyres and resetting the mud-guards I was ready.

My thoughts, that I might make it to the Brampton Valley Way and back within my hour. Realising that I was a little unsteady, maybe just around the block might be more appropriate.

Fifteen minutes later.....knackered home for a rest.

So the moral is that just to stay with it and the thought you are helping the NHS and possibly
saving lives, also exercise ever so gently !

Anyway's let's have a look at some more of your wonderful Photographic entries .

Avocet, Alan Coles     Cley Norfolk.

Sani Pass, Dave Thomas. Lesoto SA.

Hippopotamus, Bob Mason.   Lake Navaisha, Kenya.

Fly Agaric, Bob Gill.  Yardley Chase.

Purple Emperor, Clive Bowley.  Fermyn Wood .

Robberfly sp, Dave Jackson.  Bulgaria.  

Spoonbill, Robin Gossage. The Camargue.

Andean Cock of the Rock, Dave Thomas
Equador.

Leopard, Dave Thomas. Botswana.

Brown Hare, Martin Swannell.  near Moulton.

Common Spotted Orchid, var rhodochila.
Carol Wingate. Totternhoe

Flying-Fish Bob Bullock. Caribbean.



Cheerz, Robin.