7th May - sunny, hot, 27C, very light wind

Willey; the Swallows were busy building their nests at the moment, collecting short pieces of hay/straw so they must be at the ‘lining’ stage.
About 1815h a Male Sparowharw flew in to the garden corner Bush, chased by Swallows, it hid there. There Swallows knew it was still ther and kept flying over the area calling, with a Starling, joining in, all ready to hassle it when it leaves cover

Stanford Reservoir; a morning visit, already 22C by 0900h, phew.
A couple of Hares were on the adjacent field and a Muntjac doe was feeding along the field edge.

A fungus in the grass.

Two Mallards broods were seen today. Little else was on the water, 3 Common Terns were sitting on a raft, each had a metal ring on, but not a colour ring.

Garden Warblers and Whitethroat are numerous here this year, but both Sedge and Reed Warblers seem low in numbers.  Also, a Cuckoo has been conspicuous by its absence.   4 Common Sandpipers were on the dam.