Non birding days with only a Painted lady the highlight.

The Avocet pair have a nest on a shingle island in the middle of the main lake.

Nothing much else was seen.

TRIP WITH RSPB CENTRAL LONDON

Lakenheath fen

A rainy day to the RSPB reserve in Suffolk. There were Sedge and Reed warblers. Unfortunately, I didn't see any Golden Orioles but I heard them.  

5 Hobbies showed well with one sitting on a tree giving brilliant views. Only 1 Marsh harrier was seen. Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing were seen.

Nunnery lakes

A couple of additions to the day list with Curlew, Canada goose, Egyptian geese and Red- legged Partridge.

Year list: 133

My dad and I entered in the 6th annual bird race held at Barnes wwt. We won the family category last year and we hoped to win the team category this year. We got off to a good start with a Peregrine and a Common tern over. That was really about it!

We did manage to win however and we each received £20 gift vouchers. The final total was 49 species.

Year list: 132

Patch year list: 89

A brilliant day with the LNHS. Pied flycatcher, Wood Warbler Goshawk and 3 Hawfinch (!) where the highlights. I couldn't take any photos as I forgot the camera!

Wildlife seen included Holly Blue, Green veined white and Speckled Wood.

Life list: 162

Year list: 131

UK list: 148

Bird(s) of the day: Hawfinch+Goshawk

On the way there was Speckled Wood, Robin, Blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Starling, Wood and Feral Pigeons. The Swifts were still feeding and a Peacock butterfly was showing well.

There were some more swifts and a possible Cuckoo flew past.

There 10+ Swifts at the football field ( I was going to train for cricket) and a Lapwing passed overhead.

I think it is a first for the site.

A large raptor glided distantly overhead near my house. It was larger than a Sparrowhawk and had broader wings than a Gull. It didn't have a forked tail which lead to an only conclusion; Buzzard.

An excellent day produced my first Swifts of the year. 2 Avocets brang hopes of possible breeding as they were seen for a week.

I also saw 1 Green sand and 1 Reed warbler.

There were a few disappointments though. I missed a Honey buzzard, 2 Hobbies and a Lesser whitethroat!

Year list: 127

Patch year list: 87