Clarks Bog welcomed on site the Princes Trust’s latest participants over the last two days. We have had a group of 10 youngsters doing a variety of jobs on site. Day 1 we had a mini competition between two teams to see who could build the best insect hotel.

On Day 2 there was a bit of painting and 10 new bird boxes put up.

Well the guys and gals came back to finish off a bug hotel and do some signage. I attended their graduation ceremony with John Bell at the end of last week and the crew kindly presented me with a sign for the front of the reserve. Thanks to them.

Our first Roe Deer fawn of the season was born, on the reserve, on Monday around 2pm. Mother and fawn seem fit and healthy.

Many thanks to Mat Storey (Storey Engineering of Hepscott) who made a fine job of welding back together my much battered and abused four wheel barrow. A bit of kit we’d be lost without but is now back in action following Mats skilled repair.

We have just put the final touches to the ‘Contemplation Corner’ observation point, with homage to Game of Thrones we now have our own throne on which to view the reed bed comings and goings!

Here’s a couple of regular furry visitors helping themselves to our bird feed!

Heres a few pics of the feathered friends who have caught my attention over the last few days. We have also been welcoming back some of our long distant visitors back for the spring and summer, so in the last couple of weeks we have seen Chiff Chaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Swallows arrive on the reserve.

Blue Tit

Buzzard

Dunnock

Wren

Moorhen

Mallard

Female Reed Bunting

Feale Reed Bunting

Male Reed Bunting

Greenfinch

Pheasant

Stock Dove

Tree Creeper

Willow Tit

Swallow

Swallow

Swallow

Swallow

Swallow

The warm weather over the last few days has brought out the butterflies, we have seen six different species over the last four days.

Peacock, Small tortoiseshell, Small White, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, and Comma

This little chap/chapess came to see me yesterday, poor thing had a very gammy left leg and was hobbling around on three legs. Not sure if they will last very long unless it heals, poor thing, shame as they looked in good condition apart from the leg! They came and sat outside the hide keeping me company for 5 minutes.

Many thanks to the scouts of 4th Morpeth, their leaders and the parents that turned out this weekend to work on the reserve. They helped out on the observation mound at Contemplation Corner, transported and used reeds for screening at the Birds Eye view hide, and build me a nice raised bed at Veras shed.

I plan to post 4 views of the reserve at set points for each of the four seasons. So here are my four pictures for the Spring collection:-

Now here is the summer collection:-

My Autumn collection:-

Deerview Hide

Veras Shed

Contemplation Corner

Dunces Corner