Water Rail

I often walk by a long narrow stretch of water at the side of the Lodmoor Reserve, Weymouth. 
Around one chance in twenty I may catch sight of Water Rail that I know reside in that area.

Thankfully this was one of those times that I was successful. That said, frustratingly, I usually can hear them making that Squealing Pig like call without any sighting at all.

The Water Rail produces two clutches per year of 6 to 11 eggs between March and August. The Water Rail is a very secretive species with its habitat being  well vegetated wetland area.

Local Walk Post - Singing Wrens

There is certainly more bird activity now.

I heard my first Blackcap of the year singing, which was presumably a male.

The song of the Dunnock can be heard just about everywhere on my local walk.

Long-tailed Tit - Always worth a few photographs.

Little Egrets can be found in all the local rivers as well as the local Nature Reserves.

This one was finding food with ease.

Wrens, particularly males, can be seen singing on higher perches arond their territories and nesting sites.

Lesser Celandines adorn the side of paths everywhere.

This Woodie was observed hiding in the shade, no doubt having eaten its way thought the green shoots on the tree.

This Dunnock was singing away at the top of its voice when I walked along a path.

Country Walk - Cerne Abbas

One of my local patches is a Woodland and open Chalk Hill site on the edge of Cerne Abbas Village.

The weather is improving so a recce to see how Nature is progressing in that area was required.

Thsi Cock Pheasant posed for a hill side shot.

The main theme of this post is Wild Primroses, which are commonplace in the roadsides and woodland of the County of Dorset.

A typical roadside bank view covered in primroses.

Some Wood Violets can also be found.

Another common flower to be found is the Lesser Celandine, which covers much of the Woodland floor.

A firsts sighting of a Peacock Butterfly this year was welcomed, but not at close range.

A bird that does not hog the limelight is the Great-spotted Woodpecker, which hid mostly behind branches.

The Woodpigeon is finding plenty of greenery to eat on the forest floor at this time..

 A few Jacob's Sheep were observed amongst the flock.

One flower that is not in abundance anywhere is the Oxslip. 

I am never sure which sub category is which.