Matsalu Bay
Haeska meadows on the North Shore of Matsalu bay.
Barnacle and Whitefront on stop over. ( Branta leucopsis & Anser albifrons )
Coats of many colours.
Ruff on the flooded fields.
and
Wood Sandpiper
Hundreds of Ruff out on the shoreline. ( Philomachus pugnax )
Kloostri
The channel here controls the water level of the flood meadows.
Lesser Spotted Eagle on the road from Haesta to Kloostri
A circular walk here leads out onto the reedbeeds.
White Tailed Sea Eagle breeding in the reed beds.
Common Crane
Montague's Harrier
Blue Headed Wagtail
Wood Sandpiper
White Stork
Water Horsetail - ( Equsitum fluviatile )
Solomon's Seal ( Polygonatum multiflorum )
Wood Anemone ( Anemone nemorosa )
Buttercup Anemone ( Anemone ranunculoides )
Ash bud ( Fraxinus excelsior )
Sea Buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides )
Norway Maple ( Acer platanoides )
Bird Cherry ( Prunus pads )
Wayland Wood
Oaks just coming into leaf and flower
Hazel coppice stool
Bird Cherry - Prunus padus
Bluebell - Hyacinthoides non - scripta just beginning to unfurl.
The flowers are really flat and distinctly horizontal which caught my eye.
Lesser Celandine - Ficaria verna
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Hornbeam - Carpinus betulus
Early Purple Orchid - Orchis mascula
A pink shade of Wood Anemone - Anemone nemorosa
Couldn't get over the long legs and how the fly can angle them to get at the different plants of the flower.
The angled knee in the lower picture is extraordinary, particularly with the laid back stretch as well..
Two above that show how high it can project itself. A bit like a cat stretching or an old citroen safari with the air suspension.
Just managed a picture of the back legs extended. They are very quick to tuck them in when they land on something.
Large Bee-fly - Bombylius major supping on the Celandines.
Bee-fly life cycle form the Dipterists forum
Most amazing the way the females load the eggs with dirt to camouflage the eggs and make them heavier.
This allows the female to flick them into the burrows of Solitary Mining bees.
The hatched Bee-fly larva then eat the larva of the Mining bees
Water Avens - Geum rivale
Nodding avens, cure all, drooping avens, water flower, indian chocolate
Orange Ladybird - Halyzia sedecimguttata
Apparently closely associated with Ancient Woodland in the past. Likes to feed on the mildew associated with Sycamores. But it's range is increasing as it has adapted to feed on Ash.
Orange Tip
Brimstone
Comma
Holly Blue