Yesterday we met up with family at Barnes allowing me a chance to try and spot anything of interest.
Being a boring time of year, with barely anything of note except an Arctic Tern flyby before getting there, I wasn't as excited as I normally would be. Between the Dulverton and WWF hides there was nothing of note except lots of Sand Martins whizzing over, and Greenfinches, tits, the yellow-billed Moorhen and Robins at the feeders. A family of Reed Warblers flew around in the trees, driving me mad.
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| juv Greenfinch |
From the WWF, I spotted a duck which reminded me of a female Wigeon. For good reason; it was a female Wigeon! A surprising bird to see, but it does show that autumn is coming!
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| fem Wigeon |
Once it started pouring with rain, I reached the Peacock Tower and spent a good time around there. There were lots of Sand Martin, Lapwing, ducks and also a Black-headed Gull feeding its chick. Though I saw one of the young Lapwing, it was miles away and I couldn't get a picture.
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| Lapwing |
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| Starlings |
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| Black-headed chick feeding time |
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| Teal? |
At the bottom, there were Reed Warblers in the sun after the downpour, and butterflies fluttered around.
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| Meadow brown |
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| Reed Warbler |
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| Emperor Dragonfly |
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| Reed Warbler with caterpillar |
After a quick lunch, I headed to the Wildside, en route stopping at the Headley Hide where a Sparrowhawk briefly disturbed the gulls. The Wildside was also busy with Sand Martins. It was the butterflies which stole the show however, with blues, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Small Heaths, Painted Ladies, Red Admirals and a first for the year through a Small Copper. A Six-spot Burnet also posed.
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| Sand Martin |
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| Six-Spot Burnet Moth |
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| Common Blue |
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| Small Copper |
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| Common Blue |
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| Small Copper |
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| Gatekeeper |
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| Meadow Grasshopper |
A quick walk down the South Route had a Common lizard on a post and a damselfly.
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| Common lizard |
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| Beautiful Demoiselle? |
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