Monday 14th. May 2012

I managed to get out for just over an hour first thing this morning , before the cloud bank to the NW rolled over , and shortly afterwards , the first spits of rain started falling . The only thing that has changed between then and now is the intensity of that rain , varying from drizzle to real wet stuff .I decided to make a first visit of the year to the Farm lake , stopping off on the way at the rookery , where things have quietened down considerably , as many of the youngsters have now left the nests

and can be seen following their parents around the horse fields , begging for every bit of food found by the adults . Like all the Corvids , a very difficult bird to get close to , and with so many pairs of eyes watching , one step too close , an alarm call , and everyone departs for the far end of the field .

A few of the youngsters are still in the trees , no doubt discussing the pros and cons of leaving their high perch . The sun was just about showing when I got to the Farm lake , but it didn't last long . I disturbed a Grey Heron from the corner , but my initial scan produced just a single Mallard . It was far too cool for butterflies or dragonflies , and indeed I saw neither on my visit . Around the road side

of the lake , Bogbean / Menyanthes trifoliata , has just come into flower and doing it's best to brighten the day . And doing the same were just a few heads of one of my favourite flowers , Ragged

Robin / Lychnis flos-cuculi . On the arable field side , there was a singing competition between Common Whitethroat , Blackcap and Skylark , but I only caught brief glimpses of the contestants . Two Swallows flew over , hopefully the pair that nest in the stables up near the house , and then some movement on the lake , when a Coot and a Moorhen started scrapping . On the bank at the

house corner , a single Oxeye Daisy in flower , all others were still in tight bud . As I photographed it , the first few spots of rain could be seen on the surface , which hastened my pace along the last side of the lake and back to the car . I did however stop briefly when I saw a Little Grebe amongst

the Bullrush stems , and managed to get a few shots , before a call from another one from deep in the

bankside vegetation , and it was gone . If they do breed this year , I hope that they will be more successful , having lost their four youngsters , probably to the Grey Heron , last year . As I left the site , I counted 11 Magpies in the horse paddock .
I have also spent quite some time trying to ID the two red and black insects posted yesterday , without any success .
Since posting , Phil / Sharp by Nature has identified the sheild bug type insect as Eurydema oleracea  / Rape Bug , which is found on several of the crucifers / cabbage family , including Rape and Garlic Mustard / Jack by the Hedge . Of interest , the markings on the black can be yellow , white or red . Thanks very much indeed Phil .
Many thanks also to ShySongbird / ShySongbirds Twitterings , who came up with the same ID , only to be pipped by Phil . Not very gentlemanly , but he is a Rat Packer .