31st July - Mostly cloudy, some sunny spells, light NW, warm and humid, 20C

This afternoon I walked around Stanford reservoir, at the overflow there were eight Grey Wagtails, with three Pied Wagtails on the dam.  A single Common Tern was over the water, more Gulls are now present with small numbers of Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed with a single herring Gull.

The drake Goldeneye was found among the Tufted Duck, a female had five ducklings and a Mallard duck had eight small ducklings.  The first Wigeon of the autumn was a eclipse male, a single male Pochard was on the dam and Grey Heron was hunting around the waters edge.

 Wigeon, eclipse male

Wigeon, eclipse male

Tufted Duck family

Several Whitethroat families were about, one female was still collecting food for young in a nest.  Reed and Sedge Warblers could be seen and heard and an occasional Chiffchaff called.  A few Reed Buntings were around, like this one that spent awhile preening.

 Whitethroat with food

Reed Bunting, female

A variety of common butterflies were seen, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Peacock, Red Admiral, Green-veined White, Large White.  Several Brown Hawker dragonflies were on the wing.

Peacock