Southern Migrant Hawker!

 I've had a few attempts over the last few years to try and spot a Southern Migrant Hawker, without any luck, so today's trip to RSPB Frampton Marsh finally put this species to bed! As you'll see, however, my photos leave a lot to be desired!! Unfortunately, it didn't perch whilst I was there, but the intense blue of the abdomen and eyes were very clear to see "in the field". 

Southern Migrant Hawker (honestly!!)

Whilst on site, I had a walk around the the Reedbed Trail and saw plenty of Yellow Wagtails (mainly juveniles), Spoonbills (7),  Black-tailed Godwits (200+), Dunlin (30+), Ringed Plover (a great flock of c.30 flying over!), Ruff (10+), Avocet (3 adults), Redshank (20+), Spotted Redshank (4, including a Norwegian-ringed bird, flag CEW), Knot (year tick 176) and heard a Greenshank (year tick 177). I also heard Bearded Tits, Goldfinch, Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Birds of Prey were represented with a male Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel and two sightings of a Hobby (my first sighting of this species here).

Whilst on site, I also recorded a few insects, including included Painted Ladies, Green-veined Whites, Ruddy Darter, my first Willow Emerald Damselflies of the year, and a pair of mating Migrant Hawkers.

Willow Emerald Damselfly

Migrant Hawkers

Little Barbrook Reservoir

 On Sunday, I had a couple of hours at Little Barbrook Reservoir. I went looking for Whinchat (no luck), Stonechat (1 family party seen) and dragon/damselflies.

Juvenile Stonechat ( 1 of 3 seen)

Odanata seen were: Emerald Damselfly (20+, including pairs in tandem), Black Darter (1 male) and Golden-ringed Dragonfly (2, 1 male).

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Rufford Gulls - 2nd August 2026

 Yesterday, I had a quick 45 minute visit to Rufford. Gull numbers had increased to c.40 Black-headed Gulls, and included the first juveniles of the year (4).6 ringed gulls were seen, including some that I've not had there for quite some time.

258A was one such bird. First ringed in February 2020, this bird has been a regular visitor to Rufford, but yesterday's sighting was my first since January 2026. So far, there haven't been any summer sightings.

258A

273A was ringed, as a juvenile bird in November 2021, and , again, has been a regular winter visitor to Rufford. This sighting was my first since 3rd January 2026. Again, no summer sightings.

273A

207C was ringed on 22nd December 2022, as an adult, and has been reported an amazing 47 times at Rufford. This was my second sighting this season.

207C

258C was ringed on 3rd December 2023, as a juvenile, and has been seen 30 times at Rufford. This is my first sighting since 17th January 2026. Again, no summer sightings.

258C

255F was ringed 30th November 2024, as a juvenile. Yesterday's sighting was only my 5th sighting since ringing, and my first since September 2025. Presumably, it pops into Rufford when it first arrives back, and then overwinters elsewhere. No summer sightings.

255F

2V03 was ringed on 18th January 2025, as an age 5, i.e. born on 2024. Yesterday's sighting was my first of the season, and only the fourth since ringing. I last saw this bird on 2nd September 2025. Again, presumably a bird that overwinters elsewhere. No summer sightings yet. 

2V03

Year List and Mediterranean Gull

 Last week, whilst in Wales, Jayne and I added another two species to the "Year List", and saw a fantastic looking juvenile Mediterranean Gull.

The two new species were: Water Rail (174), with one seen feeding along the edge of the reeds in the wetlands between Malltreath and Pen Cob car park and Chough (175) that was seen at RSPB South Stack.

Chough C8

The last bird of interest in Wales, was a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, that we spotted whilst walking along the coastal path at Benllech. Here are a few pictures, taken whilst the bird was preening.

Mediterranean Gull

Red Squirrels!

 One species that we love to see is the Red Squirrel. Obviously, we don't get them in Derbyshire anymore, but, whilst in Anglesey, Jayne and I have managed to see them in a couple of spots around the island. 

The first spot, Llyn Parc Mawr, is a car park on the Newborough National Nature Reserve. This site was just a 10 minute drive away from our holiday home, so we popped across on our first night. We arrived at about 6.30pm, and, within two  minutes were watching the first of 3 squirrels, taking advantage of the feeding stations there.

The second site, The Dingle or Nant y Pandy, in Llangefni, was a little further afield, and the squirrels were again quite easy to see, as they are often fed by visitors. We had great views of at least 3 different squirrels.

Whilst here, we also saw a Painted Lady, a male Banded Demoiselle and a single Myathropa florea hoverfly.

Bodnant Gardens - 27th July 2026

 On Monday, Jayne and I stopped off at the National Trust's Bodnant Gardens, on route to Anglesey.

We had a walk around the site, and noted a few nice butterflies, including two new for the year: Clouded Yellow and Common Blue Butterfly.

Clouded Yellow (over exposed!!!)

Common Blue Butterfly (female)

We also spotted 6+ Painted Ladies, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and Green-veined Whites.

Dragonflies were also seen, including Common Darter, Golden-ringed Dragonfly (both new for the year), Migrant Hawker, Emperor (2 males and a couple of ovipositing females), Common Blue and Azure Damselflies.

Emperor

Yorkshire Sculpture Park - 24th July 2026

 Jayne and I had a walk around YSP today, and added a new species for the year, saw 3 ringed Mute Swans and managed a beautiful picture of a Brown Hawker.

The "year tick" was a single Spotted Flycatcher (173). This is a new species for us at this site. Unfortunately, no photo, as it flew away as soon as we spotted it!

The three ringed swans were 31Y3, 9Y63 and 6Y97. They all appeared to see last year's youngsters (aged 5), and will all have been ringed by Yorkshire Swan and Wildlife Hospital. 

6Y63

9Y63

31Y3

Brown and Migrant Hawkers were everywhere, along with a couple of Emperor dragonflies. One of the Brown Hawkers posed nicely for a photo on some sycamore keys.

Brown Hawker