Catch up from last week

 

Whitethroat singing it's little heart out

Toft Newton Reservoir reflections, just us two there, perfect !

Southern Marsh Orchids just opening after the much needed rain

A few beautiful roses from a plant Tom bought me for Mother's Day, looking lovely xx

Red Kite

A couple of garden planters, looking fabulous thanks to Simon x

Our cat, Pixi, who will sleep in any container when we are our gardening. Here she is a a gardening tray that is covered in compost, not bothered by it at all.

A pike laying in the water......waiting for lunch !

Marsh Harrier

The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, looking it's age nowadays with very little life left in it. Sad to see as I used to play in and around that as a child !

Little Owl keeping it's eye on us !

Hobby souring round the skies

Four Spotted Chaser Dragonflies

Our first courgette of the year, we now have plenty sprutting through

Comma butterfly

Common Blue butterflies, busy mating !

Our local blackbirds have had their first round rearing a couple of chicks that have been for worms every day. They have now disappeared again so hopefully, she is sitting on her second round.

Pollution, Scunthorpe Steelworks

 

We often walk around the nature reserve at Ashby Ville, right next to our steelworks. Every day pollution is allowed to be poured into the air, and this is what we can see in the daytime so heaven only knows what gets released into the air during darkness. Not surprising we often get coughs and sour eyes and you should see my windowsills - washed weekly and always covered in thick black muck. 

Drax Biomass Train

One of the many biomass trains on it's way to Drax Power Station. There are 17 trains per day.  Each train carries sufficient biomass for Drax to generate enough renewable energy to supply electricity to 800 homes for a year.  Drax takes delivery of 30,000 tonnes of biomass each day making that 2,3 million tonnes per year. The biomass comes into ports in the UK as is sourced from the forests of North America and Europe. 

Peregrines, Lincoln Cathedral

Our annual pilgrimage just down the road to Lincoln to see this year's peregrines. 4 chicks this year, one already flew this morning and was impossible to find perched on the towers. 3 remain still flapping on the ledge. Quite a crowd this year, it's getting a popular spot for the photographers. We parked on our usual spot, outside the Sing School and listened to the choristers practicing. Beautiful architecture, some stunning birds and music to our ears, what more could you ask for !

The three amigos sat waiting patiently for their tea to arrive !

Battling Mute Swans

 

A couple of mute swans having a full on battle, drawing blood. They did eventually give up with one retreating to the other side of the water. A territory battle that was very nearly to the death and all photobombed by a couple of little egrets !

Bee Orchids, Toft Newton Reservoir

 

Brilliant that the Environment Agency have cordoned off the area we reported to them. The area now has a dozen bee orchids that are just starting to flower. They have even made a sign ! Thank you EA x

A total contrast to our council, North Lincolnshire who have cut the bee orchids down for the third year despite knowing they are there. I have made a formal complaint to the council and got my MP onboard who is as disgusted as we are. Words fail sometimes but gross incompetence springs to mind.