Paul's Birding Diary

Sunday 12th July 2009 Here are some photos from a very pleasant afternoon spent at the National Trust's Croome Park in Worcestershire. Brown Hawker: Pond Skater: Green-veined White: M eadow Grasshopper: Six-spot Burnet: Blue-tailed Damselfly: Ruddy Darter: Black-tailed Skimmer:

Sunday 5th July 2009 I carried out my seco nd Breeding Bird Survey visit to SO7713 this morning; although not much to report there was at least a good showing of Yellowhammers (above) and Whitethroats , and flocks of 15 Swallows and 60 Wood Pigeons were notable. Butterflies encountered included a Small Copper , and lots of Ringlets and Meadow Browns .

Saturday 4th July 2009 A cracking day's birding with Andy thanks to Otmoor RSPB in Oxfordshire, where the star attraction was the singing male Marsh Warbler (above) . A lifer for us both, the bird performed beautifully with its song, and showed occasionally, often flying between the reeds and the hedge behind. Other highlights were at least three Turtle Doves , a Marsh Harrier , seven Red Kites , three Lesser Whitethroats , four Whitethroats , several Sedge Warblers , many Reed Warblers and on the insect front, Black-tailed Skimmers , Ruddy Darters (below) , Commas , Ringlets and two Five-spot Burnets (bottom) .

Friday 3rd July 2009 This afternoon at Slimbridge WWT there was a total of 26 Green Sandpipers around the hides (above) (12 on the Tack Piece, three on the Knott Pool and 11 on the Top New Piece); also on the Top New Piece two Little Ringed Plovers , two Greenshanks , a Dunlin , a Little Egret and 7 Redshanks , including the fledgling, on South Lake 45 Black-tailed Godwits and 68 Redshanks and a Lesser Whitethroat at the Decoy. Broods of Tufted Duck were on the Top New Piece and near Martin Smith Hide (below). This evening, Mark brought round this Poplar Hawk Moth (below) a colleague had found at his workplace along the Bristol Road.