April 9th -Around the reservoir and at home.

It was a brilliant, sunny, warm afternoon and we went for a stroll around Cheddar reservoir. We were pretty sure that we saw our first swallows. The great crested grebes were busy on the water - synchronised swimming?!

Swimming G.C. Grebes

Great Crested Grebe

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All along the banks of the Reservoir sheep graze and just now they have their new lambs with them, who are very laid back!

Some of the ewes were very concerned though.

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As we returned to the car park we watched a grey wagtail at the water's edge.

Grey wagtail

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At home in the garden the butterflies were enjoying the sun too, at least two tortoiseshells, a peacock and an orange tip were seen during the day. The tulips were looking especially good  as were some of the other spring flowers.

The tulip bed

Tulip

Dicentra

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March 26th

I was surprised to see a sparrow hawk perched in my garden this morning, it flew next door but I did get a photo albeit a not very good one.

Having spent the morning in Bath we headed back to Bleadon via Chew Valley Lake where we watched the usual assortment of Tufted ducks, great crested grebes, swans and mallards. There was a pair of jays in the trees opposite Green Heron Pool and here there were also shelduck, coots and cormorants.

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