3rd July Sunday - Sunny spells, light W breeze, 20C, some humidity pm

We had lunch at my brothers today near Theddingworth, for Mums 93rd birthday.  They have had two broods of Swallows of 5 each, the youngsters are still with the adults around the buildings, suddenly there was panic from them as a Hobby flew in low and chased the Swallows, it gave up and flew off.  Just as it did we noticed a Sparrowhawk circling very high and heading east.  A few more butterflies were showing on the flowers, like these Small Tortoiseshell on the flowering Thyme.

Much later I managed a hour at Stanford reservoir, I spotted a single Small Skipper and large Skipper, its often interesting to compare the markings on the large Skippers as there can be quite a bit of variation.  This was a different area than the other two seen recently.

Several Garden Warblers were singing still, one showed long enough for a quick photo. Along with Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Reed and Sedge Warblers.  A Lesser Whitethroat was watched carrying food for its young.  

Swifts, Sand Martins and House were hunting food overhead.  The male Pochard was again on the dam, but the Goldeneye was not seen this visit.  Also on the dam was a Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret.

A Stock Dove was sitting on the barn Owl box it has nested in, while a Kestrel hunted around the edge.