Day 1   25-07-06
Nothing much on arrival day, however there were plenty of  Tree and House Sparrows. On the way to a town called Zrenjanin where my family is, we saw Buzzard, Rook, Kestrel, Jackdaw.

Day 2   26-07-06
A hot day today so we went to the swimming pool for a short swim. The highlights were Green and Great spotted woodpeckers in a small park next to the pool.
We went to a small village called Muzlja, a part of Zrenjanin where my cousins and grandmother is. At night, we went for a bat hunt and saw a Barn owl over. They have a nest in the neighbours house, my cousins say.

Day 3   27-06-06
The usual species seen today.

Day 4   28-06-06
We went to an artificial lake called Peskara (sand quarry) for a swim in the morning. An exciting day as I saw my first new speces, Little Bittern, flying low over the water and into the reedbed. Other species seen were Marsh harrier, BHG, Grey heron and Sand martin.

Days 5-6 29-06-06______30-06-06
Usual species seen these days.

Day 7  31-06-06
A brilliant end to the first week of this trip as we took another trip to Peskara. A huge number of gulls were on the lake made up of YLGs, LBBGs and BHGs. Plenty of Little Bitterns were seen, I estimate that there were between 5-15 of these small herons. 1-2 Marsh harriers went over and suddenly new bird number 2 appeared, Squacco heron, flying over the water towards a patch of reed and landing. On the way back, a Crested lark showed.

Sorry for my absence, I was in a birding trip/ meeting family at Serbia. However I will write what we saw.

I know the one on the right is a Buzzard, but if you compare it to the picture on the left, you can see that the right picture is not a Buzzard. Any comments to what it is?

Left picture taken in hills, right in plains both in Serbia (by my dad).

A butterfly walk at Holland park on a sunny, hot day produced 8 species of butterflies.

The first was a Comma found in the rose garden giving close-up views and photo opportunities. As we went into the woodland through the Kyoto gardens, Large White, Small White and Green veined white were all seen. There seemed to be a large amount of Speckled Woods in sunny areas on nettles.

But the real surprise was at the wildlife garden…

We saw the usual when a new member came along to join our group. Amongst the pebbles at the pond, she brilliantly spotted a Purple Hairstreak. It was showing only a few feet away but unfortunately it had its wings closed.

Through the wood, Holly Blue and Red Admiral were seen.

Total: 8 species.

Comma

Purple Hairstreak

Holly Blue

Red Admiral

Speckled Wood

Another glorious day where the highlights were 2 Avocets but sadly only 2 chicks. 4 were present before but 2 died due to high water levels.

Comma, Brimstone, meadow brown and Peacock were all seen

A hot day producing:

• 2 Greenshank


•  Redshank with Chicks


•  2 Avocets with its 4 chicks.

The wetlands looked at its best on a hot and sunny day as I walked past the visitor centre to look at the noticeboard. A number of interesting sightings included 4 Avocet chicks which recently hatched. An amazing record as it is only the 3rd breeding record of Avocets inland and the 2nd for London (Kempton Park). Other interesting sightings included Red Kite and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.As I walked to the peacock tower, a new bird for the patch year list was seen; a Hobby. A Kestrel also hovered searching for food.

A quick stop at WWF hide for scarce gulls but none seen.

Arriving at the tower, the 2 Avocet parents were showing but not the chicks. I finally spotted them hidden amongst some vegetation; 4 cute Avocet chicks.

Highlight: Avocet chicks

Butterflies: Meadow Brown, Small White, Red admiral and Painted Lady.

Due to the Stodmarsh trip on the 10th, my lists have gone up.

Year list: 143

UK list: 156

Life List: 169

A glorious day at Stodmarsh produced 59 species. Along the riverbank, my first new species  was seen; Turtle Dove. We then went across the road to the mound producing my second new species; a magical Spoonbill. Well, it wasn't that magical; it was asleep most of the time!

Other species at the mound were: Shelduck, Little Egret, Black tailed godwit, Lapwing, Common tern, Bearded tit, Reed Bunting, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Linnet, Cetti's Warbler, Gadwall, Mallard and Ringed Plover.

Along the river, interesting wildlife included Peacock, Red Admiral butterflies, Red eyed Damselfly.

A Cuckoo,Blue tit, Stock dove, Feral pigeon, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw were also added.

At the Lake, there was: Greylag goose, Great Crested Grebe, BHG, Kingfisher and Cormorant. In the Woodland, there was a Chiffchaff. On the way to the Marsh hide, there was a superb Little Owl in farmland showing beautifully. The last birds of the day were House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail and Skylark.

Birds of the day: Turtle Dove

                          Spoonbill

                          Little Owl

90 species were seen on this glorious day at Minsmere. The highlights were:

• Bearded tit
  
• Cuckoo
  
• Little Tern (new species)
  
• Little Gull (new species)
  
• Sandwich Tern (new species)
  
• Arctic Tern (new species)
  
• Bittern flying

We missed a Roseate tern which was seen earlier in the day and the Spotted sandpiper was not present.

Wildlife included:

Small Copper-4 Spotted Chaser-Smooth newt-Speckled wood-Peacock.

Year list: 139

UK list: 153 (Little tern = 150th species)

Life list:166