11th Sept - sunny periods, light SW breeze, 19C

This morning a Chiffchaff made a brief visit to the garden before flying up to the telegraph wires to join the Swallows before flying off. On the wires there was about 30 Swallows, with others flying around, further Swallows were around the fields to the west and on electric wires there, making at least 70 Swallows around still.  A couple of Meadow Pipit flew over fields to the east of the village, first of the autumn.

During the morning I visited the local lake, things were fairly quite, but with patience things could be found.  Four Bullfinch were calling from the thicket, a female Blackcap dashed in to cover while Long-tailed and other Tits roamed the bushes.  A cormorant flew over and a Grey Wagtail called as it passed.  On the water only one Tufted Duck, 12 Coot, six Moorhen, three Little Grebes and plenty of Mallard.  A Reed Warbler called from the reeds.

During the afternoon I walked around Stanford reservoir, plenty of Speckled Wood and Southern Hawkers flying.  Duck number have not yet started to increase much yet, but I expect this to change from mid-month. The eclipse male Goldeneye was feeding among the Tufted Duck, six Pochard, Mallard and two Gadwall. A good number of Great-crested Grebes were present and three Little Grebes.

Adult and juvenile Little Grebe

A Hobby was frequently seen hunting Dragonflies, with the thermals perfect for the Buzzards to get up high several could be heard and seen making the most of them.

A good number of Chiffchaffs were in the bushes, plus Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat, often with the roaming Tit and Goldcrest flocks.  Several Chaffinch and Tree Sparrows were at the feed station.  Two Jays called noisily as they were disturbed.  Some 10 each of Swallow and Sand Martin were feeding over the water, a little later ~60 House martins appeared and many took a dunk in the water to drink or wash.

Hornets have done well this year, three nest boxes have been used by them in which to build nests, like this one.