Jon Lloyd

Another quiet day at the Wall today and another very April Showers sort of day with bright patches and short down pours. I wlaked on the eastern fields having seen very little on the pool at Tibberton Grange apart from the odd Swallow.Walking out amongst the cows and calves a spotted something yellow appear and disappear int he long grass. I waited for a few minutes to appear again and this time got the scope on it. Yes a female Yellow Wagtail. I saw another near another cow a few minutes later. They were really quite frustrating to watch good view then dissappear int he long grass. Then in one fleeting minute I realised there were not one or two birds but 7 with three birds distictly bright buttercup yellow. They moved with almost total denial of injury, flitting around the feet of the animals with almost disregrad for crushing feet and grinding mouths. I moved in a little closer for a phot but this was tough int he high winds and long grass.

Lots of Warblers around, Blackcap in the roadside Trees and Whitethroat on the tall fronds of recently flowering oil seed rape. Chiffchaffs still proclaiming territory from their usual spots and the odd Willow Warbler too.

The pools were quiet. The Canadian Goose is sitting on eggs but apart from Mallard, Coot and Moorhen not much about. The odd Swallow twittered on its route past but then in the distance the distinctive pointed shape of a Swift probaly male that fought desparately against the wind and then came closer to feed over the pools quite high up before moving on.

For those who have written in expressing

some interest in the Spring Flower information, here are the details of the latest out in flower. The odd damp patch in the open field turns up Cuckoo Flower- Ladies Smock varying in colour from subtle pink to white. (see photo. This wa lot more common than it is today the serious plight of wetlands and over draining taking having its effect. The plant aptly flowering in the very week in which the first Cuckoo is seen. This plant is in the family called Cruciferae. Plants in this family have 4 petals and leaves that are opposite each other on the stem.

Another plant out in numbers this week is Jack by the Hedge (Garlic Mustard) This is a taller plant about knee height and another member of the Cruciferacea family, check those opposte leaves and 4 white petals on flowers scrunched up together on the tip of the stalk. But the really tell tale feature is the garlic scented leaves, role it between your fingers and hey presto garlic.

Both of these plants are food plants of the Orange tip butterfly and you will notice from the diary that there have been one or two of these about lately.

Another real beauty at this time of year is a plant from the Caryophyllaceea, petals in fives but each divided quite deeply hence the common name Mouse-ear (Cerastium Fontanum.)You can find this int he hedge not far from the gate down to the hide from the roadside.

Martin Grant

Today Saturday May 3rd I visited Wallfarm and recorded a pair of Lapwing with 1 chick on a wet meadow at SJ672180. In the next field just to the north, not actually Wallfarm, in a winter wheat field were another 5 pairs, they were acting as though they had chicks but it was impossible to see them in the winter wheat. The Barn Owl was over the marsh at 12-45. Also recorded Cuckoo, 2 Chiff Chaffs, a Blackcap and Sedge Warbler all heard. Also seen 2 Whitethroat, 2 Tree Sparrows, a male Reed Buntings and a Swift.