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

Wildlife at Lytchett Bay and on soggy Brownsea Island - 8th and 9th July 2024

I arrived at Rockley Bay, near Poole, in the afternoon and it was too early to check-in, so I had to wander around the area for some time.  I decided to walk over to Lytchett Bay, which was not very far away from the holiday park.  Unfortunately, the weather was not great.

 Little Egret in drizzle

Another Little Egret, with a snack, in the rain!

The weather brightened up during for a short while as I walked past this Small Skipper butterfly on a thistle-like flower

The next day I went to Brownsea Island and saw a Common Tern with a Sand Eel from one of the bird hides at the lagoon

Redshank in the rain - also viewed from the bird hide

Shelducks, Terns and lots of distant Oystercatchers

Adult Common Terns and a juvenile Tern on an island in front of the bird hide

Unfortunately it rained all day, so I decided to leave the island early and go back in order to relax in the mobile home at the holiday park.

Another birding visit to Walthamstow Wetlands on 29th April 2024

I had a such great time during my previous visit to Walthamstow Wetlands a few days before that I decided to go there again on 29th April with the hope of seeing the Black-necked Grebes once more.

There was a lone Sandpiper at the edge of a reservoir

A couple of Starlings were looking for food

A Ladybird was crawling around in the vegetation as I stopped to eat a sandwich

and then the summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes appeared again!  I was so happy!

Further round the reservoir two pairs of Tufted ducks were resting at the edge of the water

Six Common Terns were standing at the edge of the reservoir

A Great Crested Grebe was getting blown around in the wind

General view of Lockwood reservoir

Greylag geese led their goslings away from me!

On the other side of the Wetlands a pair of Great Crested Grebes were riding out the choppy waves