Marsh Fritillaries

 a visit to the Lincolnshire hotspot and probably the first time I have seen these for c20 years! 

slightly better Purple Heron images

 

Purple Heron and Glossy Ibis show at Alkborough

 The flock of two Glossy Ibis at Alkborough had increased to three today but the 2cy Purple Heron was a new site record - found by three passing birders yesterday in a reedbed where I had done 5 hours surveying I could see how I missed it having spent another 5 hours in the last two days knowing exactly where it was and still not being able to see it until it flew - The same 2cy bird seen at Blacktoft on the 7th it has clearly been skulking in the Alkborough reeds all week 

Wood Warblers

Fortuitously we stopped in a lay-by near Ullswater and a male was singing in the trees but more amazingly a female was nest building in the bank of the lay-by so I could sit in the car and photograph her collecting nest material; of a few other birds an unpaired male near Grasmere was singing from some beautiful perches and seemed totally unconcerned about people as his territory was alongside a busy footpath 

Lake District

 a few days in the Lakes last week mainly hoping to connect with Wood warblers a species sadly now lacking from eastern England - took in a few other sites including the Esthwaite Osprey viewing area very civilised with cafe and benches on the lake shore and Ospreys on the web cam -- Bluebells were just getting past it but still spectacular