July 2nd to 9th 2017

There are not many sightings in our sightings book this week, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to see.

Please put all your sightings in the book. We are looking towards collecting sightings by e-mail too. Watch out for details soon.

July is a bad month for bird watching unless you can pick up some wader passage. The bushes and meadows are full of secretive young birds and there is very little by way of birdsong.

Reed buntings, yellowhammers and turtle doves are almost the only birds still singing. (Yes, we still have turtle doves!) We seem to have two pairs of barn owls breeding in the main reserve, which is brilliant. Go to Dodder Fen or the Great Meadow at dusk. But it['s not just about birds. This is a great time for butterflies and dragonflies.

Barn owl by Mike Anderson-Brown.

Sunday July 2nd: Barn owl.

Monday July 3rd: Marbled white butterflies near car park

Wednesday July 5th: River Walk; 12 species of dragonfly and damselfly.
                             Many gatekeeper butterflies. Clouded yellow in car park.
                             Essex skipper in garden.
                             Puss moth caterpillar in garden and six barred clearwing found in car-park
                             while photographing six spot burnets.

Friday July 7th: Turtle dove singing in the dead trees opposite the Hayden Hide. (JAS)
                           Kingfishers on the river and at the Heronry Pits. Black-caps singing
                           Great crested grebes nesting on 2 new nests on Heronry South. Little Egret x 3
                           Essex skipper in garden, also possible (but unlikely) small blue in Education garden.
                           Puss moth caterpillar in Visitor Centre garden still there.