Carlton Marsh

This afternoon 95 Gadwall were counted-a new record. A Shoveler was new in on the scrape and Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets and 10 Lapwing were on the wader scrape. c50 Swallows were feeding over the marsh.

A melanistic Grey Heron on the marsh today (Dave Smith)

2 Southern Hawkers and 10 Common Darters were on the wing (Dave Smith)

This evening 2 Snipe accompanied the Green Sandpiper and a Kingfisher was diving from one of the perching posts. A Grey Wagtail flew south off the dike. 15 Canada Geese and 6 Greylags were resting up. Both Little Egrets left south together at 20.06hrs to roost.

Several Oyster mushrooms are growing on a fairly large Ash.

2 Foxes were hunting the wader scrape at dusk.

Thurlstone butterflies (Chris Parkin)
200 Small White were identified along with 15 Wall Brown, 9 Small Copper, 3 Red Admiral and 3 Comma.