A mixed day with cloud and a few brief showers in the morning and becoming sunny about 2 p.m. A total of 50 Mute Swans was impressive; the majority were on the canal. Four broods were present including two at the eastern end of the reserve which may well have bred elsewhere. Three kingfishers were on No.3 bed and a fourth on the canal near the golf course. Two peregrines were seen, one on the viaduct and the second harrassing a pair of buzzards to the north of No.1 bed. Mallard totalled 74 and over 300 lapwing were on No.3 bed. Considering the weather and the fact that some areas were not covered, a total of 65 speckled wood butterflies was a good count.

Photo of the juvenile male Sparrowhawk ringed on No.3 bed today.

Cheers David

It was one of those near-perfect, late-summer mornings today. Warm, sunny and with just the lightest of breezes and birds in every bush, it felt like there was every chance of finding something a bit different. Breakfast in the Morgan Hide gave us the opportunity to count the waders out on the increasing area of mud. Three Green Sandpipers, 22 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Snipe and 150 Lapwings were decent totals. Two Kingfishers then dashed around before one perched in front of the hide and a Water Rail gave extended views. Some of us then went over to the Loop of No.4 bed to see whether, with its recently lowered water level, it too was pulling in the waders. It wasn’t, though it looked perfect and held plenty of wildfowl as well as two more Kingfishers. Highlight from No.4 bed was a Redstart flushed from the side of the central track. While we were away, our counterparts turned up a Little Egret and an unprecedented – in recent times, at least – 7 Tree Sparrows on the feeders outside the hide. By early afternoon things were quietening down and a Hobby, skimming over the Hide, was the last sighting of note. Blackcap passage on the bed usually peaks in late September, so the 54 caught by the Ringing Team this morning - along with 3 Garden Warblers, 2 Kingfishers and a juvenile male Sparrowhawk amongst many other birds – bodes well for the autumn. Photo of a Migrant Hawker from No.3 bed this morning Cheers David Bowman (with David Spencer, Alan Warford, Helen Wynn, Sue Haddock, Brian Baird, Les Jones and Diane Shepherd)

Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar

4 juvenile Little Egrets were briefly seen from the South Screen this morning before flying off west. Also today, 1 Hobby, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Green Sandpipers.

Fox on the scrapes below the John Morgan Hide this morning

On a calm, autumnal morning I arrived early to see a low mist lying over No.3 bed, the vegetation soaked in dew and the elders bending under the weight of ripening berries. Won’t be long before hundreds of Blackcaps are feeding voraciously on the berries before making their next hop south to the Mediterranean. Early on, a Marsh Harrier rose from its roost in the reed bed and drifted off to the south-east. Five Black-tailed Godwits then flew in and, from the way they were constantly bathing and preening, may have just arrived from their Icelandic breeding grounds. Three Green Sandpipers, 10 Snipe and a Water Rail were also very active, while two Kingfishers were in front of the Morgan Hide on and off all morning - at one point sharing the same stick perch. The dead Birch trees across from the hide are always worth keeping an eye on for perched raptors and delivered again this morning. First it was the turn of two juvenile Sparrowhawks, which kept indulging in aerial jousting before returning to their perch for a break. Then a Raven landed to escape harassment from the local Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Finally, a Hobby used them as a base for sallying forth to catch dragonflies - at one point taking an unsuspecting Brown Hawker from the channel in front of the Morgan Hide.

Photo of a Kingfisher from this moring. Cheers David Bowman

Photo of a Great Diving Beetle found crossing the track on No.1 Bed mid-morning. This specimen was over an inch long and is the second we have encountered this month.

Plenty of interest on No.3 bed this evening. Gadwall totalled 438 and Coot 117. Also present were 4 Green Sandpipers, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret.

Lapwing (Vanellus vanillas) from the John Morgan Hide

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) from the John Morgan Hide

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubious) from the John Morgan Hide

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limos) from The John Morgan Hide

Little Ringed Plover from the John Morgan Hide

Common Buzzard (buteo buteo)on footpath.

Spent a good few hours today, in glorious sunshine, wandering round No.3 bed. Autumn passage, added to the gradual lowering of the water level on the bed, means that waders are now a daily occurrence. Six Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpipers and 265 Lapwings were today’s tally. Other interesting sightings included: the regular Kingfisher in front of the Morgan Hide, a single female Pintail and 3 Peregrines (an adult and 2 juveniles) which drifted north over the bed, temporarily scattering the waders. A male Banded Demoiselle (see photo)on the South Bank was also a good dragonfly record for the bed.

Cheers David

oh i forgot to say i saw a cat on number 3 bed just before the tower hide, not sure if anyone has seen it of if anyone knows its about

A Nice couple of hours on the eyes today. just as i entered the Morgan hide David Bowman said there was a Kingfisher out there and within a minute it came to the closest stick and gave good views and oppertunity to get some photos. ( Cheers David ) plenty of lapwings 4 Black tailed Godwit 1 little ringed plover, lots of dragonflies mostly brown hawkers a good number of red eyes damselfly at the bridge

Photo of a Ruddy Darter present at the New Pool on No.1 bed today.

Photo of a Common Darter at the New Pool this afternoon.

Yesterday Ash Radford began clearing a path around the New Pool on No.1 bed to provide better access for future dragonfly surveys. I re-visited the pool this afternoon and was delighted to find this ovipositing Brown Hawker plus lots of Common Darters and a Ruddy Darter. Well done Ash!

Female Garganey from south Screen on 30th July