18th Sept - cloud and sunny periods later, light NW breeze, 20C

This morning there were 60+ Swallows sitting on the wires in the village and a further ~100 to the west feeding in a sheep feed and on the electric wires there, together with ~ 10 House Martins.

A walk to the local wood mid-morning produced both Green and great-spotted Woodpeckers, a Nuthach, Chiffchaff and female Blackcap, plus the usual common residents.  Several Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell were flying, plus one Comma butterfly.  In the wood interesting bracket fungi were seen on Ash wood.

I then decided to go and take a photo of the Swallows sitting on the village telegraph wires, just as I got there they all flew off alarmed, and sure enough a Hobby was flying through them and attempting to catch one.  I watched it for 10 mins flying and swooping after Swallows , but did not succeed.  I managed a couple of flight photos.

During the afternoon I walked around Stanford reservoir which was very pleasant.  About 50 Wigeon are now present, coming in during the last for days. Also, 12 teal, three Shoveler, nine Gadwall and five Pochard.  Little Grebe numbers have increased, I could see 11 and there may have been others too.  A Red Kite flew over, a Buzzard had a go at it to chase it off, but it took no notice of it, eventually climbing and moving off eastward.

There was plenty of Chiffchaff around and several Blackcaps. Thirty plus Goldfinch fed on the set-aside field edge.  Several Bullfinch were in the thickets and Linnet were heard.  Eight Lapwing were flying around but did not land, a Kestrel was calling from nearby trees.

A mixed flock of Swallows and House Martins were feeding over the water and fields, a single Meadow Pipit flew up from the neigbouring field calling as it went off and finally a Raven flew in from the east and headed off to the south.  In all 48 bird species were seen here today.