RCP 5/03/26

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Another lovely day with cloudless skies and temperature up to 16-17 C in the afternoon. Despite my sore hip I couldn't resist another visit to RCP.

Walking from Bloors Wharf I checked out AP first of all. I was pleased to see it had been well managed, removing old foliage of nettles and the like in order to open up the paths. As a consequence the habitat looks good for reptiles and other wildlife, and it was perhaps no surprise that I found two Adders and three Slow-worms there.

After that I headed towards the ponds. One Adder was in scrub by the tall trees, and there were two more about 100 yards further on.

The field nearest Motney Road was rather quiet for reptiles with just one Adder briefly seen. I bumped into Den and we walked back the way I'd come. Near the ponds we found three Adders on this occasion, all seen well. Prior to that there was a Grass Snake in the open field, which rapidly shot off towards the bushes and out of sight.

The sound of Med Gulls was often heard, and at one point there were four overhead.

Given the weather it was no surprise that butterflies were on the wing and which included three Small Tortoiseshell.

The first Adder of the day 





Grass Snake



Small Tortoiseshell 

Peacock 





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