Nuthatch Building Nest

The Europaean Nuthatch Sitta europaea, generally nests in holes on trees and reinforces just the entrance with mud. This pair were building a nest in the crevice in a wall, reminiscent of the Eastern Europaean Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) showing that the species have not diverged that far in nest-building habits. We watched it (?them) bring in mud and build a complete entrance to the nest area. Sometimes it disappeared into the nest as here and then elegantly hopped out and off for more materials. A wonderful harmonious setting for such an  elegant bird.

St Albans Herons

I have visited St Albans most years from 2012 to watch the Herons and friends busy courting, mating and building nests around the second week in March. After a very sparse year in 2023, this year is encouraging as we located 5 nests and maybe a couple of unpaired youngsters. The early light with low sunshine was ideal but it clouded over later so a different approach in processing at the end. My favourite is the second image - sheer 'Joie de Vivre' which is how they made me feel. The grumpy one giving the evil eye to the Coot is probably more representative of their behaviour.

'Painted' Portraits

An evening at Toft Photogroup playing around with a slide projector, some old slides and a couple of willing models, commencing with  'Van Gogh' portrait

Insect Activity in Cambridgeshire

Although overcast and breezy, lots of insects active today including a new Sawfly, an Andrena minutula bee, a cream-coloured Ladybird, and two new plant bugs in addition the brown and green forms of Palomena prasina.

Just the Weather for (Counting) Ducks

 Sunday was the March WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) Count at Paxton Pits. It started overcast and misty but soon the rain started and by the end was very heavy. The best 'count' was certainly the single male Smew but the large numbers of dabbling ducks (Teal, Shovellers) together with Coots, Gadwall etc and Geese on the flooded meadows will be the lasting memory