The patch has been somewhat neglected of late due to work commitments and that fact that we have been away at weekends.
A couple of weeks ago we spent a long weekend down at Fleet in Dorset where we camped with friends overlooking Chesil beach. A great campsite!
I managed a bit of birding at Studland where I spent a bit of time photographing butterflies and a Dartford Warbler which wouldn't keep still.

                                                  Painted Lady

                                                                   Peacock

                                                        Any ideas what this is?

Wood Tiger Beetle

Dartford Warbler in gorse. Honest!!

Back at home a walk on Sunday 4th produced plenty of warblers with a few Willow Warblers around the lake, including a singing male in a large mixed flock with tits, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Goldcrests. Around the paddocks there was a family of Spotted Flycatchers and a juvenile Kestrel. The stock pond held 18 Canada Geeese and 2 Grey Herons. On the lake itself were 82 Mallards and 5 Mandarins.

The overgrown ditch that leads down to the lake held a few juvenile Reed Warblers and Whitethroats. This looks like it might be a bit of habitat that might produce a few birds in the next couple of months.

As I was leaving the lake two Kingfishers flew up the lake.

On monday 19 Mandarins were on the lake and a G-R Dragonfly was still in the ditch opposite the pumping station in Furnace Lane.

Hopefully I should get to do a bit more birding in the coming weeks.