1st Summer Night Heron.

 I have often thought that the habitat at both inflows is ideal for a Night Heron. So well done and a BIG Thank you to Alan , who first noticed it on Saturday, and John for rediscovering  it in the rain today(Wednesday).

 This is a first summer.

 Some happy county birders were very pleased! There are only 7 county records, the last was 1984. Some Night Herons are kept in captivity, but they are normally rung. This individual had no rings, so hopefully it is a genuine vagrant.  Night Herons have a world wide distribution and breed in northern France and Holland.

 Hopefully ,if not disturbed, this bird will stay around for the summer.

Night Heron are most active after dark. There are plenty of frog and toadlets for it to feed on and tall willows to roost in during the day.

Large Blue Expedition.

Glastonbury Tor from Ham Marshes. A great area of wetlands where Little Bittern, Bittern and Great White Egret were all seen.

 The main target for the trip. Large Blue at Collard Hill.

 Feeding on Wild Thyme.

 Marbled Whites were very common. One of my favourite butterflies.

Garden Pond Attracts Beautiful Visitors.

 Male Broad -bodied Chaser on his favourite perch by my new pond.

View across the meadow and refurbished  pond. The butterfly garden is around the bench, but there is still room for the 'Chill Out' area, guarded by the Buddha!

 The pond has been rapidly colonised by Smooth Newt, frogs and toads. I have also seen Giant diving Beetle.

 Female Broad-bodied Chaser

There are also plenty of Common Blue and some Blue tailed Damselflies, which I am finding difficult to photograph.

Spotted Flycatcher returns.

 A pair of Spotted Flycatchers have returned to a past breeding site which is good news.

Orchids are blooming at both Brown's Wood and Bagworth heath. I think these are Early Purple Orchid.

A Coot was admiring her offspring. There are also at least two broods of Great crested grebes. Today a fly over Red Kite was a tick for the Thornton year list. Butterflies seen on Sunday at Brown's wood included Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large Skipper and Brimstone.