A trip out with Neil M to Gloucestershire (just) to see the Long-tailed Shrike. It performed perfectly and we had a bonus male Redstart close by.

A different venue for Wasp Spiders today, Swaddywell Pit in Cambridgeshire where I saw my first ones only last year.

Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve today on another warm day. Yellow-legged Gull near the Lagoon Hide point. 1-2 GWEs, a possible Garganey near the bund (flushed by a Kite) where there was also a Fox & a Muntjac. 2 Hobbies were calling overhead before a high flying Osprey headed North.

Summer Leys today’s venue. The Garganeys eventually showed, if only briefly. The Wasp Spiders are increasing in size with every visit. A Snipe showed briefly from the Paul Britten hide top deck and a GWE was on the reverse slope of the scrape. The highlight however was an inquisitive Stoat.

A total of 9 Wasp Spiders found at Summer Leys this morning plus Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Brown Argus, C Blue and Small Copper.

Summer Leys visit to look for Wasp Spiders, 4 so far, probably a lot more to be found around the picnic benches in the car park. Mind where you walk, they are right by the tracks through the vegetation.

A visit to Summer Leys on Thursday morning to look for Wasp Spider was unsuccessful. As was my attempt to photograph Hummingbird Hawk Moth on thistles by the 5 bar gate west of the visitor centre. I did manage Brown Argus though ;-))) C. Sand the only bird of note.

A very sunny walk down to the Bird Club Hide at Pitsford Res this morning. A family party of Lesser Whitethroats was an unexpected surprise and along with a GWE the only birds of note. The whole walk was full of butterflies: Marbled Whites 30+, Small Heaths, Painted Lady & S & L Skippers.

A walk around Castor Hanglands this morning was mostly about butterflies. My first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year being the highlight.

An Osprey over the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir this morning was invited to leave by one of the local breeding Black-headed Gulls.

A quiet outing to Summer Leys today with nothing of note on the birding front. The grass snakes put on a good show though.

An outing to Titchwell today celebrating the 12th anniversary of our 1st visit together back in 2014. Always enjoyable, a pair of Bearded Tits close to the path probably the highlight. A supporting cast of Marsh Harrier, Bl-t Godwits, Avocets, L-t Ducks, Mergansers, Ruffs, Curlews and Med Gull.

Forgot to mention the Glossy Ibis was in front of the Paul Britten hide briefly. Sadly I was in the Pioneer hide at the time.

Another glorious morning at Summer Leys. Much of a muchness on the bird front, but reptile heaven with 3 grass snakes on show to admiring visitors.

This Oystercatcher was ringed at Brandon Marsh in 2020 and is now one of a pair at Sumner Leys.

A bit of Snipe action from a rather wobbly upper deck of the Paul Britten hide at a windy Summer Leys this morning.

After a bit of a hike I managed to catch up with the adult Russian White-fronted Goose in a mixed Goose flock at the west end of New Workings South near Cogenhoe.

Great Northern Diver found on Tuesday by Eleanor was showing well east of Pintail Bay at Pitsford Res this morning. Dining on crayfish it appears, I saw it catch 2.