Today, Saturday 13th June 2026, was the Denso Marston Nature Reserve Celebration Day. Steve, the warden, was pleased with the attendance, over 100 people turned up. Aire Rivers Trust, RSPB, British Dragonfly Society, BTO bird ringing and other enthusiasts had gazebos with leaflets, exhibits and of course application forms for membership. Children’s activities, pond dipping and Ukeleles added to the fun. The day was cool with a bit of wind and a lot of the wildlife kept out of sight in the expanding leaf cover, though quite a bit was audible, and some of it was being caught in the BTO mist nets.
I knew the lay-by opposite the entrance would be full so I parked on Fyfe Grove and walked down. I sometimes feel guilty about driving down but after spending a couple of hours walking along the river, often crouching down to take macro shots of flowers or insects, my joints start to ache a bit walking up the path from the reserve. Having to walk home, uphill all the way, with my long lens, binoculars, monopod and water bottle, would take the edge off the visit, so I drive. It is an EV though.
The header image is of a Ladybird about to tuck into a stack of Aphids. Yummy.
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Photos
I spent some time talking to folk and also wandered around the reserve with my camera. I don’t take photos of people.
The photo of the Tapered Dronefly has another, small, insect that might be a type of Longhorn beetle. The one that wins the prize for long horns though is the Long-horned Caddisfly, Mystacides azurea, they are at least twice its body length. The red eyes make it even more special.
It was nice to see the juvenile Bullfinch being ringed. The BTO stall also had a collection of owl pellets and tweezers so visitors could look through the pellets for the tiny bones of what the owl had eaten. The teeth in the jaw bones could then be compared to a chart to identify the animal.
The photos from the Swollen-thighed beetle onwards were taken in the Wildflower area behind Sapper Jordan Rossi Park with lots of Daisies, Clover and Bird’s foot trefoil. It is looking good for later in the year when I am hoping to see Common Blue butterflies.
The Dryad’s Saddle fungus near the path has grown a lot since I saw it eight days ago. This is what it looked like then.
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