Home Again

This week’s photo is one of Scotland’s rarest butterflies the Marsh Fritillery. I was lucky in finding up to ten a day on Islay as it is one of their strongholds.

The only drawback about being away for three weeks is that when you return most of the nests that you found before going away have now fledged their young. However during a hectic week I managed to film a Great Spotted Woodpecker with young about to fledge, Green Woodpeckers with newly hatched young and Kestrels with young just out of the nest.

It is not often I praise our water authorities but this time praise is due to United Utilities. A month ago a moorland reservoir, where I have filmed Little Ringed Plover in the past, was full to capacity and there was no where for them to lay their eggs. I made a phone call and the water level was reduced by a metre . Not much you might think but when I checked the reservoir during the week in the gravel now exposed around its edge Little Ringed Plovers had laid their four eggs. An excellent result and all due to one phone call.

In the garden there are now many recently fledged Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins and even a Wood Pigeon. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers are taking their food away for their young in a nest on the golf course and maybe when they have fledged they will also come to the garden.