June has just about gone and the patch is in a settled mode.
Pairs of Common Terns were seen off and on until the 20th and probably the last calling Cuckoo was heard on 18th.
The Kestrel chicks are growing fast but look alittle way off fledging.

A lot of birds have been fledging including Treecreeper, Whitethroat and the first Reed Warblers.

The 14th saw 34 Stock Doves feeding in one of the cleared orchards.

A total of 32 Swifts were over the village on the 18th and Mandarin numbers have fluctuated as birds are coming on to the lake to moult.

Another Red Kite went south over the house on the 26th.

Two of the local Buzzard pairs have raised single chicks with one leaving the nest on 27th.

Young Buzzard on the nest

The two Great crested Grebe chicks are doing well down at the lake.

Hitching a ride!

Dragonflies have been few and far but I have managed a few shots

                                                                 Broad bodied Chaser

Downy Emerald

Beautiful Demoiselle

The local Grass Snakes have been seen occasionally and I managed to get ashot of one sunbathing:-

Grass snake enjoying the sunshine

Finally, a walk this evening produced my first Sand Martin(95) of the year amongst a group of hirundines feeding below the dam.