Easton Walled Garden

 On what turned out to be the last day of good weather for at least a week we enjoyed a fabulous day at Easton Walled Garden on a beautiful day with the first touch of Autumn in it: backendish!

The gardens as usual were superb and I had a feast of photography.  Easton gardens are renowned for their sweet peas and we bought some of their seeds; fingers crossed for next year.  We plan to sow them this autumn and then overwinter them in the cold frame or our next door neighbour's greenhouse.

I am always fascinated at Easton, by the River Witham flowing through the garden.  Here it is close to the source and is a beautiful chalk stream; very different to the Witham draining the fens where I spent my childhood.

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Forgot to Check the Tide Times

 We pulled up the short slope from the bungalow onto the Humber Bank and.........it was high tide right up to the sea wall so there was no exposed mud for birds.  Dash it!!!!  We had met Brian and Heather for a walk from Winter's Pit and along the Humber Bank to Skitter Ness and I thought that it would be a good opportunity for a bit of birding and it was - until I realised that the tide was in.  Doh!!

At the pit it was good for birds with several summer plumage black tailed godwits showing very well just over the fence.  However, the camera was at home!!  Doh again!!  There were large numbers of grey lags a few of which had hybridised with white domestic geese.  A little egret was feeding on the far side of the pond and there were several dabchicks out on the water.  A good number of swallows were feeding over the pit along with a lone sand martin.  A pair of great crested grebes was present too.  The bank was not entirely birdless as I found a large charm of goldfinches feeding on thistles and teasels.  At skitter Ness common and black-headed gulls were feeding on the mud and there was a small group of ringed plover.

A very pleasant walk but next time I will check tide times.

As I left the camera at home as it was a social walk, images were not taken today.

• Grey Lag
• Little Egret
• Dabchick
• Mallard
• Coot
• Moorhen
• Black-Tailed Godwit
• Wood Pigeon
• Mute Swan
• Cormorant
• Swallow
• Magpie
• Starling
• Shoveler
• Great Crested Grebe
• Goldfinch
• Crow
• Black Headed Gull
• Common Gull
• Ringed Plover
• Tufted Duck
• Sand Martin
• Pied Wagtail

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Black Tailed Godwit

Black Tailed Godwit

There Be Dragons

 Despite a good weather forecast our first lap of Messingham Sand Quarry LWT reserve was chilly and somewhat gloomy. Although we did manage to find a few beasties there were no large dragonflies on the wing.  I had met Roger and Kevin in the car park at 8.30.  It was good to catch up with each other as we had not met up for months, part Covid and part other commitments.  By the time we had completed our first circuit it was time for something to eat during which time the sun came out and our next two laps were in ideal conditions.  In fact I should have take my wellies off; it was like walking with my legs in a sauna.  I record my walks on the Strava app and it is fascinating to not how much water there is at Messingham when seen on a map.

We had seen one or two butterflies earlier but now the sun was out they were much more noticeable especially the brimstones nectaring on one particular area of scabious and purple loosestrife.  Peacocks and red admirals were irresistibly drawn to the soft pink flower heads of hemp agrimony.  As well as good numbers of common blue damselflies there were now large dragons on the wing: quite a few migrant hawkers and one or two southern hawkers.  The most common were the brown hawkers but they do what it says on the tin: spend all their time hawking for prey and only rarely perching up at all.  Although I managed shots of migrant and southern the browns eluded me.

A highlight of the day was the large numbers of quite approachable lizards out basking in the sun, which, even if disturbed soon returned to a favoured spot.  Quite a few young ones about too which is good news.  Also on the dragonfly front there were plenty of the smaller darters about, mainly common but also a few ruddies.

It was good to come across a very large hoverfly, Volucella zonaria, busitly feeding on scabious.

A good day was had and very pleasant to catch up with friends after such a long time.

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Brimstone

Brimstone

Brimstone

Brown Mottlegill

European Firebug

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Blue Damselfly

Common Darter

Common Darter

Common Darter

Common Darter

Common Darter

Common Darter

Common Lizard

Common Lizard

Common Lizard

Common Lizard

Long-winged conehead cricket

Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria

Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria

Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria

Common Lizard

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker

Peacock

Peacock

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Rosebay Willowherb

Ruddy Darter

Shield Bug

Shield Bug

Southern Hawker, female

Southern Hawker, female

Speckled Wood.