24th - 27th August

Not much birding as we were on the Isle of Man for a holiday, a few things of note between the touristy things. Wall brown was the butterfly highlight, mammals not much but a dead polecat was of note. Birding was better with a cracking hen harrier over the car. The best spot was the area at the Sound of Man, where 70+ Chough were present and large numbers of manx shearwaters passing was also of note, but little else of note.

18th August

The monthly trip with the Stordford crew and we headed for Cley, via an area near Swaffham where not much was doing, the Reeve's pheasants were not playing ball. Cley was a little more productive with gargany, spotted redshanks and greenshanks on Arnold's Marsh, the sea held little terns and artic skua's. The trip to Breydon Water was uneventful and our timing bad for the tide. Some med gulls and 5 spoonbills were present but we had to wait a little time for the white rumped sandpiper to show itself although distantly, I headed home early as promised.

13th August

An after work jaunt to Abberton, where the White winged black tern was still present showing particularly distantly, with little else I headed for Colemans reservoir on the way home, but not much doing here either.

12th August

A day at home with some dragonfly emergence from the pond, several common darters but the highlight was a Southern Hawker.

11th August

The decision to stay local was a good one, but we missed the ruddy shelduck by 30 mins or so, but the Black terns and Common Scoter at Grafham were more oblidging. The next was a little harder to see and find as Earith fishing lakes was not on the radar but we found the place and through the bushes glimpsed the Squacco Heron, it did eventually show quite well. Next stop was a quest for Lesser Emperors but a brief glimpse was not enough. The last visit to Over Railway Cutting in the evening had one wall a fox and common lizard were of note.

10th August

A mad dash - well crawl through the rush hour traffic to Oare Marshes, where the Sharp tailed Sandpiper was waiting, showing well a very nice indeed making up for the one I dipped by 5 mins in 2004. A supporting cast of garganey, little stint, whimbrel, greenshank and curlew sandpiper made for a very pleasant evening.

28th July

First stop was Stockbridge Down, which I know well but my target i did not, the Black veined white was present on arrival showing well. This is an excellent site and 15 species were found including chalkhill blue, dark green and silver washed fritillary's but alas no silver spotted skipper, just a little early. The highlight of the common species was a ringlet abbr. arete a well know aberation took me a while to work it out. Next stop Devon where we joined an organised event to see Lesser Horseshoe Bats. Despite the rain they showed very well landing on the wall just infront of us.

24th July

Finishing work early - well very early and dashing upto York without traffic delays but the bird had not been seen for a while, we staked out the car park. And after a couple of hours the Chimney Swift flew over showing well - pity my camera is back with Nikon!

21st - 22nd July

Being under the weather I spent the weekend at home doing very little a few things in the garden Butterflys - Comma, gatekeeper, large white dragonflys - blue tailed damsel ssp infuscans-obsoleta, common darter the bird highlight being a whitethroat.

19th July

An evening out on the Chalk, produced a flyover little egret and a Peregrine but the weather was not suited to butterflys and not many seen at Coploe Hill Pit. Birds were a bit thin on the chalk a distant harrier was picked up but mot much else. The real highlight was two Long eared Owls performing well at a local reserve absolutely magical and made up for the lack of stuff for the rest of the evening.

15th July

A day in Langham did not produce the Junco.

14th July

The poor weather perked up and a lack of birds around tempted me into a south coast trip to my cost, missing the Junco! I had to go to Sidmouth at some stage th summer for other reasons and chanced early July - Still a good day was had, first Mill Brook Lawn where Southern Damselflys were easily found but no scarce blue tailed. Still some Sika deer and lots of ponies entertained. Lots of damsel and dragonflys were about including Beautiful demoiselle. Next stop was Durlston CP but the high winds on the Cliff made it hard to find many butterflys my target in particular. My backup site Corfe Castle car park was much more sheltered and several Lulworth Skippers were found easily. On to Sidmouth then with some chips to Aylesbere common but not much doing, a good day but what could have been.

7th July

The trip to Broxbourne woods to meet up some of the Stortford Crew produced 12 butterfly species notably white admiral and common lizards but no purple emperor. So after lunch I headed to Over Railway cutting here a family party of whitethroats entertained as did a grass snake small tortoiseshell, small and marbled whites brought the butterfly total to 15 for the day. On to Lakenheath for the golden Orioles the male oblidged shortly after my arrival and the last youngster showed quite well in and around the nest. hobby and marsh harrier upped the bird count and lots of dragonflys and damselflys were present, but no sign of the cranes.

3rd July

The dismal weather continued but a brief evening of respite and a local trip where eventually the young long eared owls showed themselves