Cricket

The kids found this impressive Speckled Bush Cricket in the vegetable patch.

Sunny Park

Lunchtime at Wimbledon Park - Holly Blue, several Small Whites and Speckled Wood butterflies were seen but no bird highlights in the calm sunny conditions.

Bough Beech at Dusk

Little Egret
A half hour visit to Bough Beech Reservoir on the way home in the evening revealed 6 Little Egrets on North Lake (this equals the biggest number I have ever seen at BB) also present were 3 Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper, juvenile Little Ringed Plover and several Common Terns.

A Walk in the Park

A lunchtime stroll around Wimbledon Park only revealed Blackcap and several Speckled Woods of interest.

Moth Trap

Iron Prominent

I ran the moth trap Saturday night for the first time and despite some overnight rain some 60+ moths of 16 species were caught. Most noteable of which was an Iron Prominent and several Copper Underwings. There were also good numbers of Large Yellow Underwings and Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings. Also present were an Oak Bush Cricket, Shieldbugs and several wasps which proceeded to dismember and fly off with some of the smaller moths.

Swallows and Flycatcher

A visit to Bough Beech Reservior turned up 2 Little Egrets, 4+ Green Sandpiper, 4+ Common Sandpiper, Common Terns and my first Spotted Flycatcher for the reserve (126th species). Unfortunately I didn't get any decent pictures before it flew off into the nearby trees - just a perching shot on the dead tree in the orchard.

Spotted Flycatcher

The Swallows performed well over my head and consisted of juveniles harassing adults.

Acrobatic Swallows

Juvenile and adult Swallow in collision

Also saw this Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Sevenoaks Reserve

A brief look at Sevenoaks Reserve yielded highlights of a Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed plover and a family of 5 Egyptian Geese. A Peacock butterfly was also seen and a group of Mistle Thrushes were in the horse paddock.

Coots a plenty

Lapwing

Mistle Thrush