3rd July - sunny and hot, 25C, steady ENE breeze

The countryside is now bringing to show signs of drought with the grass fading quickly to a brown, some trees shedding leaves, with practically no rain in June and the hot dry weather forecast for a while yet we may see a significant effect on wildlife.

Willey; the Red-legged Partridge pair were walking up the driveway mis- morning.

Stanford Reservoir; my first Painted Lady for the site this year.  Plenty of other common hedge/grassland butterflies.

2 Garden Warblers, Blackcap and Whitethroat were singing still.  A Common Sandpiper was on the dam, along with a number of Pied and Grey Wagtails. A couple of Swift flew over and a Red Kite was Cirling over high. A Kingfisher zipped past me as I stood watching a female Gadwall with 10 ducklings.