Summer Leys Walk

We took a very warm walk at Summer Leys Reserve today, visiting the various hides where a Kingfisher and friendly Chiffchaff partly made up for the lack of close waders and Egrets as on previous visit and the 'Toad Pond' where we were entertained by Grass Snake, Terrapin and various Dragonflies. The Willow Emerald has unexpanded hind wings but did manage to fly away.

In the Eye of a Grass Snake

Came eye-to-eye with this grass snake while hunting for mining bee nests in the meadow. Knowing they are harmless other than excreting a foul odour, I enjoyed photographing the snake while it sampled the air with the tongue. I even had time to do a focus stack of it (last two images) before it disappeared into longer grass.