Wolves Wild

Heron with a patch on a narrow arm of Tillington Pool, Doxey Marshes. Here standing at the edge of the water by the far shore, seeming unconcerned at my presence on the footpath on the opposite bank.

Peacock butterfly by the towpath at Compton, feeding on dandelion flower after resting on a nearby. on hawthorn leaf

Reed bunting high in a bush and calling, on the edge of the Doxey Marshes Nature Reserve.

Tulips on the edge of a garden by the canal at Castlecroft, seen as reflected on the surface of the water.

One of the pairs of great created grebes resident on Pool Hall Fisheries. At least two pairs have their patches on different sections of the water.

The hot weather in Easter week was accompanied by several species of butterflies present in greater numbers than in recent years. This was the first small tortoiseshell butterfly I noticed this year, resting on grass leaf.

Heron which was fishing, thigh-deep on the far side of the canal just outside Bilbrook. I came along the towpath, so it took flight, landing a little further along. As I got another hundred yards further forward, it once again decided I was too close, taking off once again, this time deserting the canal, probably for the nearby Penk.

Speckled wood butterfly slowly flapping wings open and closed, while resting on a nettle leaf to warm itself in the morning sunshine.

Resting on vegetation by the canal towpath at Compton, a holly blue butterfly. The striking blue of their upper wings is only visible when they take flight.

There’s one in the same area every year. Actually, there must be at least two to ensure a fresh generation each year, but I only seem to spot one.

Cobb (male swan) brooding the eggs on the nest on the Sow at Doxey Marshes Nature Reserve, plucking feathers from its back to add to those lining the nest.

Seen on a visit just over a week after https://wolveswild.net/swan-and-nest-doxey-marshes/.

Orange tip butterfly feeding on flowers if one of its favourite food plants, lady’s smock, on Doxey Marshes. I’d seen half a dozen other males that morning, and a single one of the more reclusive females. All the others dhad been moving too fast and unpredictably for me to focus on.

One of the oystercatchers on the shingle bank in front of the main hide at Doxey Marshes. To its right, half way to the small patch of netttles, a little ringed plover.