May 27th 2011

This morning was cloudy and cold so I turned back from going to the pond and went back to bed until Mark popped round for a chat entertained by a House Sparrow and the now not so popular Blackbird who’s been caught red handed helping himself to my moths.
Out later with Dave for lunch at the Just So café where we had 2 Raven and a Buzzard over before trying our luck at Stockton Cutting as the sun was breaking through.
Greater Twayblade orchids are just about to flower and at least 20 spikes of Common Spotted Orchid are out but they are very small plants due to April’s lack of rain. Another species that has suffered badly in April is the Greater Butterfly Orchid with only one found flowering compared to hundreds last year. A few Butterfly’s were out, mainly Common Blue and the best bird seen was a Tawny Owl perched.

Some good news, class A3 Pacific 4472 Flying Scotsman steam engine, the first to be officially recorded at 100mph was unveiled today after undergoing major restoration work since 2006 at the National Railway Museum in York. She appeared in the black livery used by LNER during World II.
Further work is to be carried out after this weekend, with the engine expected to return to running steam excursions in the summer after final engine tests and repainted in its traditional apple green livery. Yippee

Richard