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An early afternoon stroll around part of Old Lodge Nature Reserve, on the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, produced eleven Common Redstarts (eight of which were stunning males), three Tree Pipits, a Cuckoo, three Common Buzzards and five Stonechats (including a juvenile).
The Heath Spotted Orchids are just coming into flower on the reserve and a few moths were on the wing, mainly Common Heaths but there were also a few Brown Silver-lines.
HEATH SPOTTED ORCHID
HEATHER (I think it is Bell Heather)
BROWN SILVER-LINE
An Emperor dragonfly and a few Large Red Damselflies were around the pools and several Wood Ant nests were alive with activity.
WOOD ANT
Graham & Sue
WOOD ANT
Graham & Sue
Graham, what a lovely place Old Lodge NR is isn't it?
ReplyDeleteJan and I visited a couple of weeks ago inspired after reading your blog. We certainly enjoyed our visit and the superb male Redstart was worth travelling for. Do you get them at Holmethorpe ?
Kind Regards
Geoff
Hi Geoff. Hope Jan and yourself are well. Ages since I saw you last.
ReplyDeleteOld Lodge is a gem of a reserve. So peaceful and never crowded. It is well worth a dusk visit for Nightjars and Woodcocks. We had a Redstart at Holmethorpe back in April but we seldom get more than a couple passing through each year.
Plenty of them at Old Lodge though.
Hope to see you again before too long.