Harvest Time

 It's that time of the year and the harvesters are out harvesting the crops. The weather has been kind to the farmers (are they still farmers even if the workers are contractors working for large companies?) and the wheat and barley has ripened well. It's good for me too as I can see the wildlife much easier once the crops are gathered in.

Proper sized straw bales!

Roebuck in the stubble

Brown Hare seeking out what cover it can find

Poppies in a patch of non-crop field

The common and numerous butterflies and dragonflies were showing well so I took more photos. I'll have to delete some of these soon as my PC storage is filling up  😂

Female Common Darter

Female Common Darter

Speckled Wood

Close up of Migrant Hawker

The Barnacle Geese arrived back a few days ago and have been seen most days since. They are the birds that were ringed in North Yorkshire but their leg rings can't be seen easily  due to the long foliage.

Barnacle Geese

Barnacle Geese - 29 in number

Magpie

 

I usually find that Magpies have a hard look, befitting their status as bullies and despoilers of passerine's nests, but this one looked a bit soft and cuddly!! Or is it just me?

Lesser Whitethroat

Warblers have been keeping a low profile over the last few weeks but they are getting more vocal and noticable now. Chiffchaffs are singing again, as are Willow Warblers. Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Lesser Whitethroats are quiet still but are still flitting about. I've managed to see a single Sedge Warbler but no Reed Warblers in the last week.

The set aside field is now coming into flower and is looking just great with Flax, Phacelia and Perenial Sowthistle the blooms that catch the eye at the moment.

Set aside field looking good

No sunflowers showing yet but they usually are in the mix so we'll see when they show themselves.