11th June - sunny spells, breezy, sometimes gusty, SW, 20C

Churchover Swift valley; I walked from the church over the fields to the river Swift bridge and viewed the area.  The local farmer had told me he had seen Curlew and Red Kite in the area on a number of occasions.  I quickly saw the Curlew, these flew on to a mown area of the field then moved in to the longer unmown grass.   The farmer was morning more grass in the field and was being followed by 100+ Lesser-black backed and a few Herring Gulls, plus Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw.  I though ideal for the Kite to come and look for food, but it did not appear, however a Raven did flew over.   Next to the river a Linnet pair was feeding, a Pied Wagtail, a Reed Bunting singing and a pair of Yellowhammers flew on to the wire fence and mated.  Skylarks could be heard in the fields, while 30+ Swift, a few House Martins and Swallows fed overhead.

A Banded Demoiselle was blown passed in the gusty breeze.

Stanford reservoir; a nice walk here this afternoon that proved interesting.  At the inlet the Lapwing still has 4 well grown chicks, later in the adjacent field I spotted another pair with chicks, these were much younger though.  A single Black-tailed Godwit was in the narrows area, I digiscoped it and sent it out, Mike Alibone came back saying it was potentially of the limosa subspecies, ie. the continental form which is rare in the UK.

The Cuckoo was still around calling often, while the usual warblers were singing, the garden Warblers were notably in good voice.   A Hobby flew over and turned quickly away when it spotted me in its flight path.
Swifts seemed to be everywhere I looked along with c100 Sand Martins, fewer House martins and a single Swallow.  At least 2 Shelduck and 4 Oystercatchers were around. Only 9 great-crested Grebes were on the water, c20 Gadwall and c15 Tufted Duck.

10+Speckled Wood, 4+ Large Skipper, A peacock and Red Admiral plus several unidentified 'Whites' flew by.

My first Dragonfly of the year here, an immature male Broad-bodied Chaser.