Rodley Nature Reserve.

It was cloudy and cool this morning but when we drove to Rodley Nature Reserve the temperature changed and the sun came out. 

It had certainly grown up since we were there only a few weeks ago.
Lovely to see all the yellow irises out.
There were young goslings, and cygnets.
The sand martins were swooping up and down, then back to the holes in the man made  ‘sandbank’.
Obviously feeding young ones.
On one of the islands two young lapwings had hatched out. ( see extra)  This heron landed just a little way off and was immediately dive bombed by one of the parents until it decided it had had enough and flew off.
You can see the look on its face before it took off.
I tried to get a photo of the dive bombing but the lapwing was too fast for me.

We were surprised to see a lot of tadpoles still in the ponds.
Plenty of damsel flies but didn’t see any dragon flies.
The water lilies were now flowering, as well as other reeds and wild flowers round the ponds.

Nice to learn that the kestrels now have five chicks. Unfortunately mum was sat on the nest and so we couldn’t see them on the screen.
Also the barn owls have 4 eggs, but again hidden under mum.  Good to have the cameras this year.
May be we will see more next time we visit.

Remember we visited the Dyfi Ospreys on the way back from holiday. Well the first egg hatched the day after we were there, and the second egg the day after that. The last one hatched this afternoon.
We have been able to watch the live streaming of the parents feeding them . What a wonderful sight. 
Dad bringing in a huge fish and mum feeding bits to the chicks.
The wonder of technology!