This morning was operation get the Hudsonian Godwit on my Essex list. And it was a success. Showing well West of White bridge at Cattawade #essexbirding

A visit to Abberton this morning in challenging heat haze produced the Osprey perched up in hide bay ( viewed mega distantly and through a pylon ). 2+ Little gulls 2nd cal in hide bay and my first juv Med gull of the year. #essexbirding

And breath… after previous dips, fearing it would fly off and being at work today, I’m over the moon that the Caspian Tern stuck around for this evening. At Abberton Res On the bund off Billets screen 18:55 at least. A patch and county tick #essexbirding

At Abberton Layer Breton c’way today were 14 Spoonbills on the islands and lots of Odonata including this Red-veined Darter.

Enjoyed a visit to Great Wigborough church area Essex where this putative Clouded Yellow ( helice form ) was a surprise. The first I have seen. Plus Wall Brown and many Brown Argus.

Enjoyed a visit to Fingringhoe wick EWTtoday with a low gliding female Purple Emperor through the car park. Also spotted this Dark Crimson Underwing on an Oak. Essex field club listing just 37 previous records for Essex. #teammoth. Plus Red-veined Darter at Abberton Res

In Fridaywoods Colchester this Purple Emperor was having a great time chasing off dragonfly’s, a tit flock and all-comers (at the start of the video a Nuthatch drops out of the way, a good local bird ). This is the 8th year I have know the Purple Emperors to use this exact territory and trees.

This male Marbled White briefly landed on our Buddliea here in Colchester. Yippee do !! And becomes butterfly species number 29 for our house list. Plus an egg laying Small Copper which becomes our 8th species to lay eggs here that I have seen. Plus the Hummingbird-hawk moth is still egg laying.

3 Southern Migrant Hawkers patrolling our Colchester garden today. Plus Gatekeeper my FFY, 3 fresh Peacocks and Purple Hairstreaks also. Female Common Blue Damselfly ( blue form ).

A quick stop at Abberton EWT entrance gates produced this Marbled White briefly today which was nice. An Abberton patch tick for me. With 3/4 seen by other observers at nearby Wigborough church today also, it’s a species spreading in to our area.

One of the Hummingbird-hawk Moth eggs. They blend in so well to the Lady’s Bedstraw flowers. Also a Beautiful Demoiselle here in our Colchester garden.

This Hummingbird-hawk moth was back in our Colchester garden today laying multiple eggs on the Lady’s Bedstraw. Also a male Silver-washed Fritillary through and 2 teneral Southern Migrant Hawkers patrolling overhead.

A couple of Banded Demoiselles hanging around our Colchester garden today.

On a walk around the Cherrytree lane / Berechurch common area of Fridaywoods Colchester this morning I was treated to some great views of this fresh as a daisy male Purple Emperor. Also in the area 3 male Silver-washed Fritillaries. And c30 teneral Southern Migrant Hawkers

A quick walk through the cherry tree lane area of Fridaywoods Colchester produced c15 teneral Southern Migrant Hawkers patrolling the wooded clearings , 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, White Admiral and White-letter Hairstreaks.

Here in our Colchester garden I just had a female Hummingbird hawk-Moth lay an egg on our Ladies Bedstraw. I specifically planted it in the off chance this would happen which is nice. 2 Male WLH combating plus a female here and White Admiral sneaking low amongst the Honeysuckle 🤞 for some more eggs

2 White-letter Hairstreaks in our Colchester garden today favouring the Elder bush. Plus this Purple Hairstreak my FFY. Also White Admiral through again. Plus Painted lady and Hummingbird-hawk Moth still. Mid summer is definitely my favourite time of year in the garden.

2 FFY here in our Colchester garden, a White Admiral that flicked and glided through also a White-letter Hairstreak that dropped onto our Elder bush. A couple of Painted Ladies also.

Just now in our Colchester garden my daughter says “ Dad there’s a giant creature in my play house “ I take a look, male Stag Beetle! My first this year on the deck. A glorious beast. And well done Ivy, great spottering.

After a storm had passed we had 3 Hummingbird-hawk Moths together in our postage stamp sized front garden here in Colchester. The Red Valerians doing the job.

Enjoyable visit to the in-laws in Deal Kent. The pool NW of the Sandown castle site produced 2-3 Green eyed Hawkers, a few Variable Damselflies and Blue tailed Damselflies #KentDragonflies

Enjoyable visit to the in-laws in Deal Kent. The pool NW of the Sandown castle site produced 2-3 Green eyed Hawkers, a few Variable Damselflies and Blue tailed Damselflies #KentDragonflies

My FFY Stag Beetle a male flew over our Colchester garden this evening. My earliest ever. Also a Comma pupae on Elm and a second Comma caterpillar has just started to hang upside down. Orange tip Caterpillar on Garlic Mustard also.

No surprises given the current weather, a Hummingbird Hawk moth in our Colchester garden today. Also 2 ad Sum Med gulls overhead hawking insects

Our local Carrion Crows are still the best early warning system for spotting approaching Ravens over our Colchester garden. The crows alarm calls make sure I always look up. Also Garden Warbler still singing daily often competing with our Blackcap #essexbirding

It’s been my best year for Garden Warbler locally here in South Colchester. Within half a mile of home in the Fridaywoods / Berechurch common area I have 6 singing males including this one from my garden. And I haven’t check all areas yet. #essexbirding

2 Turtle Doves purring at Fingringhoe Wick EWT this morning. #essexbirding

Thought I would join in with the current Painted Lady arrivals with this one in our Colchester garden today ( I also had 1 fly through Abberton res ). Young Grass Snake in our pond and a Rose Chafer FFY.

A couple of quick visits to Abberton today produced 1 Black Tern from Billets screen, 30+ Swifts in blustery conditions. Also 2 Hobbies hawking insects LB c’way #essexbirding

Enjoyable visit to Abberton Res with the Black Terns being great to watch. Often grouping up high in the sky only to then tumble down low over the water. 49 counted in my photo. Plus Hobby over my FFY #essexbirding