26th June - Sunny periods am, becoming more cloudy and dull, light rain early evening, 19C max cooling

This morning there were several Goldfinches flying around the village and home, some of these were juveniles, still chasing their parents for food.

Because of the generally wet weather we have had off and on so far this summer the vegetation has grown extensively, this is the case at Stanford reservoir and may partly explain why Butterflies are thin on the ground.  Today I found several meadow brown and Speckled Wood and a couple of Ringlet.

Ringlet, male

No new ducks have yet arrived at the reservoir yet, but July July numbers will gradually increase, the single Pochard and Goldeneye were taking it resting on the dam.  A Common Sandpiper was new in, on its return migration from further north.  Seven Common Terns, including the two 'green' ringed ones, were present.  

Over head a flock of ~30 Swifts appeared and stayed feeding, then joined by about 40 Sand Martins, these feeding mostly just over the water.  A Cuckoo called a few times, then kept quite.  All the usual Warblers were present, busy with young and some still singing.  two Linnet were present in their favorite area.

Linnet, male

In all I recorded 45 species of bird.