2023 Earliest Sunrise

 Today (June 17th), the sun rose at 4.37am and continues at this time until June 21st when it will rise at 4.38am and then progressively later  till December!. I caught it just as it came over the horizon and then above the treeline. I was rewarded for an early start by a group of Hares at close range though not for long! and a very vocal Whitethroat. On our pond, a Southern Hawker was emerging.

RSPB Titchwell

The second venue on our RPS Nature Group weekend was Titchwell, one of my favourite reserves for its wide variety of habitats from the Mussel beds that are uncovered at low tide giving feeding opportunities for Black-tailed Godwits, Oyster Catchers and Knot, lagoons with Ruff and Avocets and the ponds and scrubland with a variety of insect life.

Territorial Birds

Yellow Hammer, Whitethroat and Blackbird were singing at full volume on my morning walk today. The light was excellent, only problem was quite a strong wind which made handholding the lens difficult.

Wren and Whitethroat Show

It was certainly Wren and Whitethroats centre stage along Bourn Brook on Saturday morning. I counted 2 trilling Wrens and 5 singing Whitethroat males - at least one had attracted a female in a short stretch. Robin and Chiffchaff made guest appearances.

A Glimpse of Toft Wildlife

With the current lockdown, I am spending more time than usual photographing in our local area rather than visiting neighbouring good nature areas but I am certainly enjoying the great range of species the village can provide. These range from the Cluster flies ready for squadron take off, hoveflies -  Myathropa (with the bat mark on the thorax) and Merodon (a great and variable mimic of bees), various solitary bees some very small so needed adjustment of depth of field, to hedgerow birds - Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Yellow Hammer