Sculthorpe Moor - Evening of 6th, morning of 7th August 2026.

 The evening session was to try and reconnect with Reed Warblers ringed there over the past couple of years but there was only one retrapped. We tried for Swallows, but as usual there was little interest in the tape and the few birds that were attracted soon headed off to where ever the established and preferred local roost site is. We're not sure whether they go to a place on the reserve or not but we do not see evidence of the usual pre roost flight so most probably not.

The next morning we were joined by LC and put up three doubles through an area of reedbed near the wildflower meadow. There were plenty of Chiffchaffs with added Sylvia and Acrocephalus warblers. Of the entire morning catch, there was only one adult summer migrant bird, a Reed Warbler, a good indicator that adults are returning south already.

Juvenile Sedge Warbler 06/08/2026

Juvenile Chiffchaff 07/08/2026

Evening 6th Total: 10 (1)

Reed Warbler - 5 (1)
Sedge Warbler - 5

Morning 7th Total: 55 (2)

Blackcap - 6
Chiffchaff - 30
Reed Warbler - 9
Robin - 2
Sedge Warbler - 1
Whitethroat - 3
Wren - 4 

Norfolk Rivers Trust - Ingoldisthorpe 1st August 2026

 

An evening effort for birds coming in to the reeds to roost. There were generally fewer birds around and the Greenfinch approached the trees from a different direction to last time and we didn't get any at all. The Swallows and Pied Wagtails made the effort worthwhile and nine new Sedge Warblers were a bonus. 

Total: 34 (4)

Blackcap - 2
Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Pied Wagtail - 7
Reed Warbler - 1 (4)
Sedge Warbler - 9
Swallow - 11
Whitethroat - 2

Stafford Road open space Ruislip Gardens - 31st July 2026

 Not a proper sortie, but after a meal with our son and staying in Reading dropped in hoping for Brown Hairstreak.

Most of the flowers had already gone over and despite very careful hunting only one, with a damaged wing, to Chris' disappoint, could be found.

Brown Hairstreak (photographed from the best side)

Time then to head home navigating numerous hold ups and diversions.

Cumbria - 28th to 31st July 2026

 It's been so awkward finding consistently good conditions to see Scotch Argus and manage it is a day we decided to book a few nights away and take a couple of days over it. 

28th July

We drove up on the 28th, a five hour drive and began with Arnside Knott.

We found a few near the tops, mostly hidden in the grass. This site has ticks and I picked up a great deal, them presumably being attracted to my pale trousers that might be mistaken for a sheep. With trousers tucked into socks, most were on the outside of my clothing. Chris got rather less.

Scotch Argus

Grayling

Painted Lady

Gatekeeper

Common Blue

A lot of difficult views of the Scotch Argus were had

Harebells

29th July

A dull, cool start, most welcome when the forecast was for temperatures of 35 degrees at home. We walked along the Lune where the water has formed interesting formations in the rock. Our primary objective was to find a Dipper, and we finally succeeded.

River Lune

Poetry for the landscape

The juvenile seemed to be waiting for parents to visit for quite a time, then began turning stones and looking for food itself, but was only confident with paddling in the fast flowing water, avoiding anything too deep.

Dipper sighting achieved, next on to Smardale Gill

This was a very easy site as the path is well maintained and takes walkers over the viaduct. Once there was a little sun we got better views.

Scotch Argus

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Green-veined White on Scabious

Scotch Argus

Smardale Gill Viaduct

30th July

As the walk was quite short we went back to Smardale before heading south.

Speckled Wood

Scotch Argus

Scotch Argus

Meadow Brown

Red Admiral

Dersingham Bog - 24th July 2026

 Today's efforts focused on getting some Stonechats for the project in the late afternoon, then a try for Nightjar joined by PWL and FJS. 

We found a creche of Stonechats and managed two, caught in two panel nets despite the rather windy conditions. Ringing efforts resumed at 19:30 and two doubles were put up. The wind calmed, and we saw a few birds flying around, with one actually on the track just feet from one net when we went to turn on the audio-lure. That bird managed to evade the nets, but a second male was caught where flying Nightjars and a Woodcock had been seen in the failing light.

The 6M bird had some unusual light markings on a few lesser coverts.

Total: 4
Nightjar - 1
Stonechat - 3

Sculthorpe Moor - 23rd July 2026

 Every year, about this time, we do a few evening sessions down near the Sand Martin bank. This is the first year that there has been any interest at the bank at all but numbers never really built up and the few birds there eventually lost interest. So, it was just a matter of seeing if Swallows roosted and picking up a few Reed Warblers moving towards the scape before the end of the day.

We caught 21 new birds, mainly Reed Warblers with a couple of Sedge Warblers, three Reed Buntings that were marked with darvic rings and an unexpected Grasshopper Warbler. He was still in breeding condition and had not begun any form of post breeding moult. Grasshopper Warbler has been reported as heard from this area very recently and we suspect he is still hoping to find a mate and has not bred.

There was a group of 30 or so Swallows overhead but they departed and roosted elsewhere. Not really a surprise with so many suitable roost sites nearby. The presence of a Sparrowhawk will not have assisted with encouraging them to roost.

Control BEF0924, an adult Reed Warbler

3J Cetti's Warbler

Total: 21(4)

Cetti's Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Reed Bunting - 3
Reed Warbler - 13 (4)
Sedge Warbler - 2

Norfolk Rivers Trust Ingoldisthorpe - 22nd July 2026

 Our second session of the day, this time at Ingoldisthorpe. Nets were  put up between the lagoons in preparation for roosting Wagtails and Swallows. We also discovered that Greenfinch are roosting in the stand of low trees just next to the lagoon complex.

We started ringing birds at 7pm, just after the two doubles and a single had gone up. As the evening drew on, bird activity increased with some birds visiting the ponds to drink and switching from one lagoon to another, and others preparing to roost. It was interesting that both Pied Wagtails and Swallows favoured the most westerly ponds containing water that has already been filtered through at least three ponds earlier in the process before water from the sewage works is returned to the chalk stream. There were plenty of reeds in the other ponds, but the cleaner water seemed to be preferred. We were very pleased to get 77 of 12 species, and just for once get onto a second recording sheet.

Unfortunately the light wasn't too good for photos once the roosting birds came in, but here are some from earlier in the evening.

One of four Whitethroats on the day.

Three Reed Buntings were fitted with darvic rings.

Total: 72 (5)

Blackcap - 6
Blue Tit - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Greenfinch - 8
Pied Wagtail - 12
Reed Bunting - 3
Reed Warbler - 9 (3)
Sedge Warbler - 9 (2)
Song Thrush - 1
Swallow - 17
Whitethroat - 4
Wren - 1