14th Aug - cloudy until later afternoon then a few brief sunny spells, very light breeze NW, 20C

After visiting the Fillongley show I made a late afternoon visit to Stanford reservoir.

On the dam a Common Sandpiper was feeding at the waters edge, later a Green Sandpiper flew on to the dam.  The usual duck were present including the Goldeneye male still moulting, while four Common Tern fed over the water. Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrows were all seen.  A good selection of warblers were seen too, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. A Jay called in the adjoining wood and a Green Woodpecker was along the entrance drive.  Only  single Swallow was seen today.

Butterflies included several Speckled Wood and Green-veined White, a Peacock and a Meadow Brown.

A Southern Hawker dragonfly occasionally rested between feeding flights giving a chance for a decent photograph.

While taking further shots of the Hawker a Common Blue Damselfly flew in and hassled the hawker, you can see the blue 'blurr' in the photo below.  I noticed that this was occurring frequently even as the hawker was hunting.  Not sure why, maybe the Damselfly felt threatened or was protecting a territory!  The Hawker seemed unconcerned by it all.