Reed Bunting ( Emberiza schoeniclus )

Killing two birds with one stone.  No not the Reed Bunting!  As I said Kat was going down to Lancashire to day, her route took us past a nature reserve we have been promising ourselves a visit to.  She works for a conservation charity so she was interested as well.

We drove down the M6 to the Lancashire wildlife trust Brockholes Nature Reserve.  In years gone by our interest was sparked in the reserve by a couple of blippers who volunteered at the reserve during its construction and early days.

We had an interesting visit, not what I expected but more than enough to keep us fascinated all the time until we had to leave to be at Kat's event for 5:00.

Of the many things we saw and photographed this male Reed Bunting singing appealed to me most.  The extras are some things that also appealed.

1.  A male Orange Tip Butterfly  (Anthocharis cardamines ) I think the best shot of one I have ever taken.

2.  A Lapwing  ( Vanellus vanellus )  Also known as Green Plover or Peewit.  The population has suffered over recent decades mainly owing to intensive farming practices reducing their nesting possibilities.

3.   Little Egret  ( Egretta garzetta )  Since I was in primary school I had promised myself I would travel to seeb the eclipse in 1999.  I well remember the thrill of seeing my first Little Egret down in cornwall only 3 years after they first nested in the UK