Carlton Marsh

Rain yesterday flooded the wader scrape. However, 3 Little Egrets, Kingfisher and a pair of Little Grebes with 1 juve. were present this morning. 60 House Sparrows were in a field nearby. (JP) 

This afternoon, with Dave Smith, Dave Standish and Les Corrall, was better for insects. At least 6 Brown Hawker (4 together), 3 Migrant Hawker, 2m Emperor, 1m Ruddy Darter, 3 pairs of Common Darter, 3 Emeral and several Blue-tailed Damsels and a Great Diving Beetle. Birds included Siskin, Great Spot Woodpecker, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. 2 Foxes were feeding on Blackberries.

On the western meadow 8 Silver Y and 1 Straw Dot Moth along with 1 Small Copper, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Peacock and 1 Comma were feeding on Buddlejas. 

Les Corrall had a Painted Lady in his Cudworth garden at mid-day.

Littleworth-Monk Bretton Meadow Brown peaked at 353, Common Blue 45 (best count this year here), Small Heath 68, Brown Argus 2, Gatekeeper 76 and Small Tortoiseshell 12. (Chris Parkin)

Meanwhile Geoff Miller reported 6 Swifts with one nest site still being used at the Beech Avenue, Cudworth colony.