Warnham LNR - Love is in the air

Mallard Duckling - Warnham LNR

Spring has truely sprung and young of many species are either starting to show in the case of the Mallard duckling above or are being eagerly awaited. A quick check of some of the nest boxes with Kevin showed that many of the boxes are being used and most of them are at incubation stage. Several of the Grey Heron nests have fledged already as to have the Grey Wagtails which were nesting on camera in the sluice.

Grey Wagtail Chicks - Warnham LNR

Grey Wagtail Fledgling - Warnham LNR

Other birds which have been mating, laying eggs, incubating or nest building include Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Robin, Dunnock, Mandarin, Stock Dove and Bullfinch but hopefully more of that to come in the next few weeks.

Whilst on the breeding front it is not only the birds that have been busy. This week I also noticed a female Brimstone flitting around the Alder Buckthorn in the garden. Sure enough on inspection I found several eggs on the underside of the new leaf buds. It is worth checking any Alder Buckthorn to see if you can find any too. Below it what you are looking for:

Brimstone Egg on Alder Buckthorn

Close-up of Brimstone Egg