Swift half news - 3rd June 2010

• A belter of a day with the large red damselflies emerging (the nymphs climbing up the (pond) water soldier plants and in 5 minutes or so, splitting along their backs to reveal an adult damselfly. A lot of fun to watch, if slightly "other worldly".
  
  
• The Swifts are still incubating two (from three) eggs, and in this very warm, sunny weather, can be seen panting in the roof space. I think the heat did for them last year, so I've still got my fingers crossed it doesn't get too hot this year - mid 20s should be fine though - we don't want another re-run of 2007 or 2008 where we got rain all summer!
• Plenty of elderflowers out on our tree - so Anna and I will make some elderflower champagne tomorrow - to be quaffed in July.
• Quite a bit of moth activity at night (knowledge gleaned from the trap). In the last few days I've caught a "Marbled Minor", plenty of "Heart and Darts", a few "Setaceous Hebrew Characters", a "Small Magpie" a "Waved Umber", a few "Spectacles" and a few "Treble Lines"- not to mention a few ichneumon wasps.
• Talking of parasitic wasps or bees - managed to get a half-decent shot of a very sorry-looking "Nomada bee" the other day - an insect that I've always had difficulty in photographing...
• All our chive flowers are out, and all twenty-one potato plants are trying to flower...
• Hawks are busy in the hood - watched the female kill and carry off a small passerine the other day (photo on flickr).
• This weather is due to be good until sunday. Be warned grapple fans...