As it was only a short distance away, I thought I had better take a look at the Laughing Gull at Reading.  It had been visiting a busy retail park for about 3 months and was now coming into breeding plumage.  When I arrived there were about ten birders waiting and it had not been seen for 3 hours.  Fortunately after about 3/4 hour it suddenly appeared on a lampost right next to the local MacDonalds, as it usually does.  I grabbed my camera gear and managed a few shots before it few off.

I thought I should make the effort to see the White-rumped Sandpiper that had been at Radley GPs near Oxford for a week.  The bird was easily viewable but a little distant for digi-scoping and the chain link fence that was in the way did not help!

The White-rumped is the centre bird above and the right hand bird below.  It was slightly smaller than the three Dunlin with it.  Note the pale edging to the feathers on the upperparts.

This rather scary and rather large Hornet decided to enter the house.  Fortunately it managed to find it's own way out after I got a few photos.

Dave Ferguson and I stopped off on the way to Gibraltar Point on 23rd September to see this Baird's Sandpiper at Kirkby on Bain.  It was first seen at this site on 19th September.

I managed to catch up with the Red-backed Shrike near Astwood, North Bucks on Friday 23rd September.  This was on-route to the Bucks Bird Club weekend at Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire.  It had been present since the previous Monday and was not seen after 23rd.  It was the first Bucks record in over 30 years!

This Southern Hawker was apparently egg laying around my garden pond for about 20 minutes.  At times it would hover within one foot of where I was sat.  Apparently this is normal behavior for this species.

Little Egrets have become regular visitors to Little Marlow Gravel Pit since early July, but are usually only seen as they come into roost just before dusk.  Up to six or seven birds have been reported on some evenings roosting on the main island.

Little Egret - 1 fishing along the edge of the sand spit.

Common Sandpiper - 1

Egyptian Geese - About 30 present

Ruddy Shelduck -1

Common Tern - c10 still present

Teal - c6 now  increasing.

A few photos from a touring holiday in the Spannish Pyrenees.

Camera is a Nikon Coolpix 995.  This was attached to an Optolyth TBS80 telescope for the bird photos.

This Serin was seen near the Yesa Reservoir between Plamplona and Jaca

Spotless Starling seen from our hotel at Sos Del Rey Catilico

Juvenile Griffon Vultures on a nesting ledge in the Lumbier Gorge area.  This species was very common particularly in and around the gorges where there are plenty of nest sites.

A Melodious Warbler near Uncastillio. 

A juvenile Water Pipit high in the mountains near Beret.

Swallowtail Butterfly seen on Lilac bush at Sos Del Rey Catlico

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Also seen at Sos Del Rey Catilico

Cleopatra (female)

Spanish Gatekeeper

Common Grayling

Marbled White (Spanish subspecies)

Small Skipper

Dark Green Fritillary -  below also

Gavarnie Ringlet  -  Seen at Gabardito

Gavarnie Ringlet