It was another really pleasant morning today, cool early on before warming nicely and bringing out plenty of dragonflies and butterflies. No.4 bed produced a passing Hobby, a Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper and a couple of Snipe, along with decent numbers of wildfowl. Walking off the bed it was nice to see a fresh Painted Lady - its been a good year for these attractive, migrant butterflies. No.3 bed also held a few waders, with 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Green Sandpipers and 3 Snipe, though the highlight was the dragonflies. We counted around 15 Migrant Hawkers around the central track, including five which posed well for photographs. Pausing on the Footbridge as we were leaving we counted a further 20 Migrant Hawkers skimming the water below the bridge, along with 2 Emperors and 8 Ruddy Darters. The total count of 35 Migrant Hawkers is the highest I can ever recall for the Reserve and we need to enjoy them now, as it wont be long till we’ve seen the last of them for another year. Photo of a Migrant Hawker Cheers David Bowman (with Dan Owen).

It had an autumnal feel on Saturday with clear skies at dawn, dew-soaked grass and a cooling breeze. Our wardens and volunteers have been working hard to open up the viewing from the Morgan Hide on No.3 bed and, with the low water levels, there is plenty of mud visible for passing waders. Early on, two Black-tailed Godwits dropped in while two Green Sandpipers and eight Snipe were feeding actively. As the day warmed we decided to move on to No.4 bed to see if many dragonflies and butterflies were on the wing and a Hobby flashed over the hide just as we were leaving. There is plenty of open mud on No.4 bed, too, and wader totals were: 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Snipe and 160 Lapwings, while, out on the water two late-staying Black-necked Grebes (an adult and a juvenile) were notable. We then had a wander round counting butterflies and dragonflies, with two late Black-tailed Skimmers and a single Ruddy Darter being notable among the former. It was also pleasing to see 6 Swifts, possibly our last of the year, drifting eastwards over the north bank of the bed, late morning. There were plenty of butterflies, too, with the 50+ noted including the surprise of three Small Coppers, a species which is now scarce on the Reserve and more usually found on No.1 bed. Photo of a Small Copper Cheers David Bowman (with Helen Wynn and Brian Baird)