After the washed out days of last week it's good to be able to get back out again! it hasn't felt much like mid-summer recently, but there's still July and August ahead and we can hope for better weather ahead.
Our hobby pair are doing all of the right things to suggest they will breed again, but sadly no nightjar or spotted flycatcher records on the reserve this year. We have had several night surveys when the rain held off, and came away disappointed, as no nightjar churring was detected on any evening.
Not too many dragonflies or butterflies on the wing after the torrential conditions, but the pools will be in a better condition for the natterjack toads again now, and there are still good numbers of whitethroats, willow warblers, chiffchaffs, blackcaps and a few garden warblers in song.
Here are a few recent wildlife images taken here by both Ray Piercy and Rob Gilmore.