Oare Marshes (16th August [pictures 1])

1. imm. Ruddy Darter, 2. adult Ruddy Darter, 3. female Common Blue,

4. male Common Blue, 5. Little Egret

RSPB trip to Oare Marshes (16th August)

A very pleasant day out with the group despite the place being absolutely heaving with people (most dog walkers!)

A fair selection of species around the reserve with good numbers of godwits and early on a large flock of Golden Plover, lots still in breeding plumage. There was a small roose of Little Egrets (c20) on the west flood. Other waders included 3 Greenshank, Ruff, Snipe, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, a few Avocets, 2 Knot. I missed out on the Wood Sandpipers that were seen briefly early on and then again in the afternoon, however, I did see a distant Peregrine over the Isle of Sheppey.

Bird of the day must go down to the adult male Hen Harrier seen flying over the fields to the south of the reserve.

Other good species included several Yellow Wagtails but nearly all were seen in flight, 2 Turtle Doves (one showing reasonably well from the West Hide) and in the afternoon 2 Hobbies.

The best of the butterflies was a Clouded Yellow.

Dragonflies/damselflies included: lots of Ruddy Darters, Common Darter, Common Hawker, Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Fungi at Little Marlow GP (10th August)

Thursley Common (9th August photos)

1. White-legged Damselfly, 2. Keeled Skimmer, 3. imm. Common Darter

4. Raft Spider, 5. Brown Hawker (ovipositing)

Thursley Common (9th August)

A trip for dragonflies/damselflies revealed:

1 or 2 late White-legged Damselflies
2 Small Red Damselflies
Blue-tailed Damselfly
Brown Hawker (ovipositing)
1 Four-spotted Chaser
Lots Keeled Skimmers
Common Darter
2 Black Darters

I also saw a Raft Spider.

Farlington Marshes

No sign of the Spotted Crake on the lagoon but a very white Ruff there as well as 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpipers, lots of Redshanks and Black-tailed Godwits and a few Dunlin. Then went for a walk around the reserve and picked up 41 Little Egrets and 13 Whimbrel. A juvenile Swallow perched very close to me on a gate and then flew into a bush when I approached. Went back to the lagoon and eventually the Spotted Crake showed quite well walking through the reeds and occasionally venturing out. Bizarrely it then went into a mad moment, dashing here and there and trying to fly up onto the reeds - weird! Noted the buff undertail and white leading edge to wing.

Little Marlow GP

My first Ruddy Darter of the year from the overgrown path

2nd August (various sites)

Started off at Woolhampton GP's but there was little bird life - yet again no Turtle Dove. It was better with the dragonflies/damselflies with Common Blue Damselfly, 2x Black-tailed Skimmer, 6 or 7 Common Darters and best of all a Migrant Hawker (see left)

Next onto Padworth Lane to see if the Cattle Egret had returned - it hadn't. There was a Brown Hawker here.

Next was Burnthouse Lane but it was so overgrown and the water so restricted that it was difficult to see any interesting birds. A Red Kite did fly fairly low over the area.

Lastly onto Moor Green Lakes where there was a nice little selection of waders including Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Green Sandpipers, a Common Sandpiper, a Dunlin and best of all a Little Stint.