Saturday June 24th

Visit between 06.20 and 8am this morning. Weather overcast.

A Nightingale was singing by the Water Works entrance as I pulled up this morning.

As I walked past the scrape (empty apart from a couple of BH Gulls) 2 Turtle Dove flew past and down the Mill Stream path.

Walking through the East Scrub area by the divers car park I photographed this Common Spotted Orchid. There are several of the white form here this year. Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were both singing and I heard a brief snatch of Sedge Warbler song.

Over onto the West Scrub open area I had brief views of a Grass Snake before it disappered into the undergrowth. Another Nightingale was singing here as well as a Lesser Whitethroat.

Over towards the railway line there are a number of Teasels that are very photogenic.

Abbey Mead pit was empty apart from a couple of Great Crested Grebes. A second Sedge Warbler was singing from the top of a bush between Abbey Mead and Brooklands Lake.

Along the edge of Brooklands Wrens, Great Tits and Robin were all feeding young and several Reed Warbler were singing.

Down the Mill Stream another Nightingale was singing and c10 Swift were over as well as a Kestrel and a family party of Goldfinch.