Saturday 27 April 2019

A blustery day at Cranford Park

It was a very blustery day at Cranford Park today
 
Bob Barton and I led the annual Bluebell Walk and Talk and luckily even though it was windy the rain did hold off
 
The bluebells were out roughly 7-10 days earlier than last year but the overall display was still good
 
 
and the usual small patch of native white Bluebells were in the churchyard - the only place I ever see them in the whole of the park

 
The Red Campion is starting to come in to flower

 
After the walk we all congregated in the Information Centre where Charmian and Christopher were talking to visitors about the proposals for the park via the Lottery Heritage Fund
 
It was a very good turn out considering the weather forecast was not great
 
I had a solo wander around the woods and park afterwards and found a pair of Mistle Thrushes by the outdoor classroom
 

 
There were Robins singing all over the park
 
 
One of the benefits of knowing all the regular dog walkers is that they share any interesting sightings with me - one of them told me had been watching a pair of warblers diving in and out of a nettle and bramble patch by the river so I went to investigate
 
It is actually a pair of Chiffchaff and I managed to get a couple of photos - as they are definitely creating a nest I did not linger but I will check on the site again
 

 
The cold wind and lack of sun meant I did not see one butterfly the whole time I was at the park
 
But in some of the sheltered areas I found several hoverflies - they appeared to be very inactive - probably conserving energy during this chilly day
 
Melanostama scalare

Syrphus vitripennis

Syrphus vitripennis

Syrphus torvus

Syrphus sp
A very productive day with a great group of interested visitors on the Bluebell Walk and Talk and a good stroll around on my own afterwards
 
 
 

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