Sutton Bingham - Fri 30 Jul

A brief afternoon visit produced just a single Common Sandpiper on the shores of West Pool. A pair of Little Grebes were feeding a young bird, so successful breeding has been proved for this species. A couple of Grey Herons were jostling for position at the far the end of the pool.
On the main reservoir three juvenile Mandarins were a good find, proving that this species has again bred successfully at the reservoir.

Combe Hill - Thu 29 Jul

As the sun was shining we headed off to Combe Hill, a few miles south of Street. We parked up in the car park and walked west towards the Hood Monument through the trees and out in to the open grassland on the hill top.

Before long we had found what we were looking for as a couple of Chalkhill Blues were fluttering about:

There was also at least one Brown Argus and a few Marbled Whites. A couple of Meadow Browns were also on the wing and we saw a single Green-veined White and Ringlet. We then carried on for a while longer and out to a bigger meadow, where we saw a single Wall butterfly and a Gatekeeper. Several Small Heaths were also about:

There were also a few Common Blues and loads more Chalkhill Blues:

Sutton Bingham - Tue 27 Jul

Our first trip out since our wedding on 25th and Ellie and I decided to get out of the house and take a walk at Sutton Bingham. We parked at the picnic area and walked along the shoreline to the hide. As we walked along we flushed a Common Sandpiper from the water's edge and could see a Little Egret further down the reservoir.
The adult Yellow-legged Gull was perched on a buoy opposite the picnic site car park.
There was not that much else about so we returned to the car, taking a quick look at West Pool before returning home. We spotted three more Little Egrets and a Ringed Plover.

Crook Peak - Sun 18 Jul

Somewhere new this afternoon for Ellie and I as we headed off after lunch to the western edge of the Mendips and a walk up to Crook Peak, some five miles of so west of Cheddar. We picked this location as the Somerset Butterfly Group were running a field trip here in a weeks time to look for Graylings and Walls, but as we would be unable to make it we thought we'd try it out ourselves.

Unfortunately, though it was still very warm the skies were overcast so there were not a huge amount of butterflies about, and on the exposed rocky slopes we saw none at all! However, we did see at least thirty Common Blues as they roosted on grass:

Also on the wing were a few Marbled Whites and several Ringlets and Meadow Browns. There were also a couple of Small Skippers:

Other than the butterflies we also saw a Jay as we left the car and entered the wooded slope leading up to Crook Peak, and a couple of young Bullfinches were seen. As we reached the top of the "peak" the ground opened up on to heathland and several Meadow Pipits were flitting about. A single male Stonechat was seen and a Raven slowing passed by overhead.

After two hours of walking over rocky terrain and steep slopes we found our way back to the car ready to head for home and Sunday dinner!

Sutton Bingham - Sun 18 Jul

After dropping Ellie off at church I popped up to Sutton Bingham for an hour to see if there was anything about. Opposite the hide the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again present and on top of the pylons were a couple of Kestrels.
At the northern end an eclipse plumaged drake Mandarin was present and a flock of twenty-two Canada Geese were on the water before flying in to a field to graze. A Collared Dove also flew through.
A Red Fox was seen foraging in a field opposite the hide.

Ham Wall RSPB - Sat 17 Jul

After a late lunch Ellie and I decided to get a bit of exercise so we drove up to Ham Wall RSPB for a decent walk. It was about 4.30pm by the time we actually pulled in to the car park at Ashcott Corner, but the weather was pretty good and despite a bit of a breeze it was very warm still.

As we got walked down the track through the reserve we noted a fair few butterflies flitting about, especially a good number of Small Whites and Red Admirals:

We also saw a Holly Blue, but unfortunately it did not settle in any one place long enough for us to get a photo. A Silver-washed Fritillary was an unexpected find and there were several Peacocks, one or two Speckled Woods, and a couple of Commas about:

As we continued down the path we came across a few people waiting for a glimpse of the Little Bitterns which have been reported at the site for the past few weeks. We gave it five minutes but with nothing in view continued our walk. However, just twenty or so metres further up the track I spotted something out of the corner of my eye and we were treated to flight views of a female Little Bittern...excellent stuff.

As we neared the Sharpham end of the reserve we saw a couple of Bullfinches and a female Marsh Harrier drifted over an area of reeds. We then returned to the car after a very profitable and enjoyable early evening out and about.

Lankham Bottom - Sat 17 Jul

Ellie had to pop in to Sherborne to collect her Wedding Dress, so I kept out of the way and and popped down the road to Lankham Bottom in the hope that there might be some Chalkhill Blues on the wing. However, despite spending over an hour searching I saw no Blues.

There was a constant stream of Skylarks and Yellowhammers singing and a Lesser Whitethroat was seen flying between two clumbs of vegetation. A couple of Common Buzzards were about, including one which appeared to be a juvenile. The only other bird of note was a young Stonechat.

On the butterfly front I saw a few Marbled Whites and a couple of Meadow Browns. A single Painted Lady was present, at least one Peacock was and a few Red Admirals were about:

A fair number of Gatekeepers were present:

Finally, I also saw a couple of Small Skippers:

The orange on the antennae distinguishing them from the very similar Essex Skipper.