I can’t resist posting a few more pictures of our new arrivals.

CharlesIII and Camilla have produced a new family with 5 cygnets arriving on Thursday. They all look fit and healthy and we’re out on the water on Friday. This video was taken today 24th May.

I also managed, at last, to read Charle III leg ring and send off for information. That came through today and Charles was ringed as an adult at Queen Elizabeth Park in 2025. This is where Camilla was also ringed, so she went back to her roots to find her latest partner.

Our first youngsters of the season have appeared, 6 moorhen chicks were spotted on Dunces Corner Pond. They were first seen on the 30th April but then went into hiding until this morning when I managed to get some decent pictures. However the initial six have been reduced to four!

I had a stroll out to the reserve at dusk and here are a few of the residents I encountered out also for a stroll..

An interesting few new arrivals over the last couple of days on the reserve.

We have also heard our first migrants, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, and Blackcap.

Also walk in the woods disturbed a female Mallard which was sitting on 10 eggs.

The new badger set on site is certainly livened up recently!

A few more pics of the birds seen on site, taken since the last feathered friends post, over about 6 weeks.

Charles and Camilla have cemented their relationship by doing what swans do at this time of the year, start the family process.

Mute swans have a practiced routine they go through before mating. It is called mirroring and can go on for 10 to 15 minutes. They basically copy each others actions. Here are some examples seen today.

Then once they have gone through their routine they mate, this is very quick process, probably lasting less than 30 seconds.

Once this is finished they then have a very sweet little routing where they bump chests, sing a little song to each other, and have the equivalent of a little cuddle together.

They will go through this routine every day for 7-10 days and then turn to nest building, egg laying and ultimately a family (we hope). You can see below they have already started the nest.

In the sun yesterday I had quite a few butterfly sightings, which was nice to see. Our Peacock butterflies have been around for about a week:-

Yesterday I saw some of our Small Tortoiseshells for the first time:-

Spring is definitely well on its way, hurrah!