Saturday 6th November.

The usual peace and tranquillity broken by the frenzied squawk of a small group of parakeet!

Eventually seen off by equally vociferous magpie

interlopers!

present on site today, some welcome, some not . . .

the pair of little grebes are back, I assume it's the same two.
Here's one of them, they are staying close together compared to previous seasons.

there were about 10 collared doves on the feeder today, nothing else got near while they mobbed the perches.

one of the four ring-necked parakeets seen today, if this lot get a hold in the area, things may never be the same!

Daubentons on the lake

Last night we went on a 1.5 mile walk, organised by Herts Middlesex Bat Group, to learn more about the bats in the area using bat detectors. Our guide was bat expert Hazel Makepeace. Here is her description of the event:
Managed to have a quick whizz through my recording from last night: on the walk down to the bridge on the reserve I’ve a recording of a Noctule, then the Daubentons (at least 4) from the bridge, which we also saw. (Also at the Sopwell Nunnery site there was a Serotine, and quite a few recordings of Common pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles throughout the walk).
An amazing evening, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a real treat to have heard and seen the daubentons on the lake. I have attached a picture of a Daubenton's bat which I took in August of this year

The recording of a Daubenton is available as a WAV sound file here.

The ‘butterfly bush’, not

It struck me this year in my weekly monitoring of butterflies that I didn't see more than an occasional butterfly at a time on buddleia (known as the ‘butterfly bush’) whereas last year I saw on at least 3 occasions more than 10 (comma, peacock, painted ladies, red admiral). It’s all been a bit disappointing this year apart from a flurry of gatekeepers and not on buddleia. Has anyone had a different experience with buddleias this year?

A very pleasant pheasant

What a handsome fellow!

Sunday August 29th

The swans are back, chasing away allcomers. Even the heron....
.

and the WWA are crowned Water Vole Champions by the Herts and Middx Wildlife Trust......

but just where are they? Answers on a postcard please.

No need to get wet!

On this rainy day, I have been rewarded with a sighting on the reserve of a little grebe; a kingfisher; & two swans... all from the warmth & dryness of my kitchen. Magic!