May days...
Dog Rose in flower After what seemed like endless days of cold wind from the North and the extremely hot weather in April, late May has brought calmer days to the wood and it is suddenly alive with colour and insect activity. There are insects abuzzing, bumble bees collecting nectar and the first Spotted Orchids bursting into flower. While it does not seem to have been a good breeding season for most of our woodland birds with many of the nest boxes left empty, we do have a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers nesting in a dead pine tree and hungry young birds inside ready to fledge any day now. When nearly fully grown they are very noisy chicks especially when they hear the parents nearby. Using my truck as a photographic hide they let me get quite close and enjoy them being fed. Sadly the Turtle Doves that I continue to put out feed for on the main truck have...
