May Day ! The first of May and the wood looks fabulous in all its new, fresh shades of green. I like to just go over there sometimes and take a brief walk around to see whats new and as the wood is about 20 minutes away by car, this is very possible. At this time of year it is good to try and avoid doing any kind of work too. My walk around today produced Brimstone butterflies, a Grass Snake and two Slow Worms under my tin sheet and lots of insects on the wing. 

The air seemed to be full of St Mark's Flies, curious black insects that are slow fliers and hatch out at this time of years in their trillions - they are called St Mark's Flies as the 25th april is this Saint' day. There were also Green Long Horn moths (Adela reaumurella); they are tiny day-flying moths with extra long antenna that like hovering over hazel trees especially in the sun. I think these are the males hoping to attract females.....presumably the longer the antenna, the more attractive they are !

And the first birds are nesting - I checked a couple of nest boxes and Blue Tits are active in one and Great Tits in another. A Blackbird has once again made a nest in our firewood stack. I disturbed it unwittingly moving around our camping area but seeing the four bright blue eggs was a great delight - I waited to see if the female bird would return and she did. As always, moving quietly and watchfully brings results. Summer is really here.........

The Green Long Horn with its fabulous antenna


Four Blackbird eggs in the nest on the log p
ile

A Blue Tit leaving the nest box

A Cardinal Beetle on Rowan flowers

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