Short walk along Nottingham canal and damselflies, birds and flowers in Attenborough Nature Reserve - 26th and 27th May 2026

I travelled to Nottingham with a few friends for a three-night stay towards the end of May

After checking into the hotel, we wandered along the Nottingham canal

This boat had been on fire and was sinking at the side of the canal

Strange bird on one of the canal boats

The next morning we got a bus to the Attenborough nature reserve, where a power station could be seen at the other side of the main lake

There were lots of damselflies in the reserve - here are several Blue-tailed damselflies

and a pair of mating Common damselflies

and a male Banded Demoiselle

A pair of Tufted ducks could be seen on the main lake

Further round the reserve, we came across several Painted Lady butterflies

A Great Crested Grebe was sitting on a nest at the edge of one of the little islands in the lake

Female Banded Demoiselle damselfly on leaves in front of one of the bird hides

Two female Banded Demoiselles

Little Egret standing in shallow water at the edge of the lake

Silver-ground Carpet moth on a leaf at the edge of one of the paths in the reserve

Rear view of a Great Crested Grebe

Another Great Crested Grebe on a nest in the middle of the lake

and a Great Crested Grebe on a nest near the Visitor Centre - with a helpful nest-building mate!

Lovely Water Irises in front of the Visitor Centre

and Water Lilies at the back of the Visitor Centre

Common Terns were perching on a Tern Raft on the lake

Female Mallard with seven small ducklings on the pond near Attenborough village

Mauve Rhododendrons in front of Attenborough church

Beautiful flowers in a front garden in Attenborough village

Windy last morning walk along the cliffs in Berwick-upon-Tweed with Stonechats, Meadow Pipit and Linnets - 15th May 2026

Lighthouse in the distance in front of a rough sea

Stonechat perching on a log at the edge of Little Beach

Meadow Pipit singing while standing on a log

Linnet gathering nesting material

Male Stonechat on the move while Meadow Pipit perching at the other end of the log

Male Stonechat perching on diagonal piece of wood

Young Stonechat flying towards a large log on the beach

Young Stonechat perching on the log

Pied Wagtail strolling on the beach

Female Stonechat perching at the end of a very thin stem

Male Stonechat perching on a twig on the left with the lighthouse in the distance

Male Linnet in daisy-covered grass

Goldfinch collecting nesting material from wildflowers in the grass

The male Linnet decided to come closer and perched on the top of a wooden post

then went back to collecting nesting material

Female Linnet collecting nesting material

Both Linnets collecting nesting material

Large waves were washing over the lighthouse wall

Time to go back to the holiday park, collect my luggage and walk back to the station - I had a lovely week in Berwick-upon-Tweed, visiting Seahouses, the Farnes and Holy Island and hope to be back soon