Hundreds of these Green-winged Orchids (Anacamptis morio) already in flower this weekend at BBO Wildlife Trust's Bernwood Meadows. Such a wonderful sight!
#WildFlowerHour #Orchids

Great to see these beautiful blue flowers on our Hairy Violets. A welcome contrast to the predominant yellow of our Primroses, Cowslips, Marsh Marigold, and Lesser Celandine that are now blossoming throughout the Valley!

A bit late to the party I know, but just seen my first Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) of the season this afternoon. #BeeflyWatch #SignsOfSpring

Just spotted my first Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) of the season in the back garden here in Oxford!
BC Upper Thames NearbyWild #RewildTheEarth 🍃💚🍃 Butterfly Conservation 🦋
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Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) making itself at home in one of the nest boxes on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Alverston Mead reserve on the Isle of Wight. Just outside the bird hide too!

Our Slow Worms (Anguis fragilis) are starting to emerge from hibernation. We came across this juvenile a few days ago as we were cutting and raking part of our dry grassland. Looks like it's already been pecked by a bird. ☹️
#SignsOfSpring #OX3 #Reptiles

One of a group of very noisy Crows (Corvus corone) in the Valley this morning. Such smart birds when you see them close up!
#OxfordshireFens #OX3

Undeterred by heavy rain, our work of moving plants to more suitable positions continues. Here, moving Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) from a dry bank (where they never flower) to wetter spots alongside the boardwalk. Hopefully they'll flower this May!
#OxfordshireFens #OX3

Strong winds and torrential rain (with a bit of hail mixed in) here this morning, so here's another photo of our Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) blossom to brighten your day. Given the weather forecast, there may not be much of it left soon!
#BlossomWatch #OX3

The fightback has begun. Spotted this real grass growing through plastic 'turf' this morning. 🤣
#Nature #OX3

🐸We have frogspawn!🐸
Five days after we spotted the first movements in our ponds, today we have around three dozen very lively frogs and lots of frogspawn! About five or six days earlier than usual for this site.
#SpawnWatch #SpawnSurvey #SignsOfSpring #OX3

The Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) plants are currently protected by 'trouse', a mixture of Holly and Hawthorn clipping to try to deter animals from digging them up!

Just planted seven healthy Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) plants at Rock Edge in one of the new scrapes. This is a species that was historically recorded from this old quarry and had disappeared. We're reintroducing it. 😀
#LocalWildlifeSite #OX3

Our frogs are back!
Movement in three of our ponds this morning. 🐸🐸
[archive 📸]
#OxfordshireFens #Amphibians

The first flower on our Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) blossom opened this morning! Much too windy to take a photo, so here's an archive shot of it in full bloom to brighten your day. 😊
#SignsOfSpring #OX3

!! NEW TO SITE !!
One of our eagle-eyed volunteers spotted a group of six Collared Earthstars (Geastrum triplex) this morning! First time they've been recorded here! Already added to iRecord. 😀
#Fungi #OxfordshireFens #OX3

It's #WorldWetlandsDay , and this is the Lye Valley fen SSSI, an internationally rare habitat right in the middle of East Oxford. Home to rare plants and insects, its peat acts as a huge carbon store. Find out more here: friendsoflyevalley.org.uk
#OxfordshireFens #LocalWildlifeSite

We spotted our first Scarlet Elf cups (Sarcoscypha austriaca) of the season today. Such a bright colour on a grey day! According to #folklore , Elves use them to drink the morning dew. However early we're there, we still haven't seen them doing it! 🙃
#Fungi #OxfordshireFens #OX3

The Lye Valley at rest, in the winter sunshine.
#OxfordhireFens #OX3 #sunset