Summer Leys Nature Reserve

Emperor Dragonfly

I spent a glorious afternoon, in hot sun, at this marvellous reserve. The well appointed hides caught a lovely, cooling breeze.

Common Blue Damselfly

Tufted Duck and ducklings

Juvenile Black-backed Gulls. Every time an adult landed, they would clamorously approach, hed down to beg for food.

Some of about 20 Lapwing

This Grey Heron landed and started walking towards the pool, to the obvious displeasure of the adult Black-headed Gulls.

Great White Egret

Male Ruddy Darter

Female Ruddy Darter

Blue-taile Damselfly

Mating pair of Common Blue Damselflies

Green-veined White

One of about 10 Common Terns

The busy water. I assume that winter is quite a spectacle

Grendon Lakes

The song of the Greenfinch and the calling of the juvenile Great Crested Grebe were the soundscape that accompanied my weekend at Grendon Lakes. Our camp was on the slope above one of the lakes.

Common Blue Damselfly. This species was present in huge numbers. A swim in the lake revealed every weed tip above the water's surface to have a perching male.

Red Admiral

Carder Bee

Common Blue Damselfly

An unlucky female

Goldfinch and Teasels

Meadow Brown

Great Crested Grebe

Pied Wagtails. Half a dozen or so of them feeding in the grass.
 

Great Crested Grebes, Grendon Lakes

 

Painted Lady, Beachy Head

 

Birling Gap

Three of the five Song Thrush anvils we found.