Millennium Wood Wander

long tailed tit

A couple of hours wandering around the wood this afternoon to see what is taking up residence. A pair of blue tits were interested in nest box 8 whilst great tits were investigating number 7 and another pair of great tits were singing around number 5, so maybe interested as well. No sign of anything showing interest in the 2 robin/wren boxes yet. However, it looks like a wren may have started nest building in one of the piles of brushwood left around for that very purpose.
2 chiffchaffs were calling along with a robin whilst crows and rooks were overhead. Several long tailed tits flitted through the tree tops, checking the blackthorn blossom for insects.
A couple of early hoverflies were seen along the path as well as a solitary peacock butterfly.

white tailed bumble bee queen

another of the same species

white dead nettle (Lamium alba)

One of 10 recently emerged 7 spot ladybirds.

3 white tailed bumble bee queens ( Bombus lucorum)were prospecting for nest sites in the leaf litter.
So all in all, a healthy situation for mid April. Grass is beginning to grow in the new ride and along the paths, but still plenty of surface water making the wood very muddy. A few warmer, windy days will dry this out. The pond area still holds water, but this is likely to drain away without anymore rain. No sign of the mallard pair noted earlier in March, nor the woodcock.
Finally, the warmer temperatures recently have encouraged good numbers of 7 spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) to emerge from hibernation, with at least 10 noted, mainly on nettles.

long tailed tit

primula

Thursday 14th is moth night here, so hoping for a dry, warm and overcast night which will offer the chance of maybe 20 moth species to the series of traps placed throughout the wood. All welcome with lights going on at 8pm until about 10.30.