Green hairstreak near car park

While looking ponies last Tuesday I saw a green hairstreak along the top getting near the car park.

Not seen them here before

Martin

Redstarts back

Heard at least two redstarts singing today

Chiffchaffs have been around for a couple of days only, so relatively the redstarts are rather early.

Heard possible blackcap and whitethroat, but the were too brief to count

Martin

Heath Fragrant orchid 2017

A locally scarce orchid which we found along the roadside.  Graham took this photo and identified it.

When we went back later we could not find it.  The guys from Old Lodge had mown the verges, and this with it.  We did find the stump after a bit of searching.

They mowed it again a week later.

The HRH the Prince must have been in residence?

We must look for it again next year.

Martin

One of the ponies has a lump

One of the koniks ponies has a lump on the left side.  it moves around and must be just a surface effect.  It does not appear to cause the pony any discomfort or distress.  It does cause discomfort to observers.

Various experts have advised to do nothing at the moment.

The pony often looks bloated, and people ask if it is pregnant.  But so do the other ponies.  It is no pregnant afaik.

The lookers keep an eye on it, for any changes.

here are two early photos of the lumps.

martin

Guess where this is .... martin

John, Keith, Mike p, ?,?, Bernard

I think that this is near the high beeches, when we were burning brash from the contractor felling trees in owl wood on the edge of the track down to stoney pond.

Interesting smoke effect, blurring John.

Volunteers playing with streams

Thanks to David p for these

Martin

Bernard and Martin

Bernard, and Martin behind

John

Jonathan, Steve, Pat, Mike m, and Ray

Jonathan, Steve, Pat and Mike m

Mike p and Graham

Neil and Keith

Mike p, Alan, and Bernard

Neil, Ray and the rest

Mike m, Keith, Ray, Neil

fake news .... martin

this photo provided by a volunteer of a chorus of robins is presented here as an interesting piece of fake news.

I guess there could be a number of culprits amongst the volunteers, but let us just say that he or she has an excellent education in the skills needed.

The shades of grey are a give away.

martin