Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Gravel Pit/Farm

I spent the afternoon at the reserve where water levels continue to drop with the plantation and sluice now dry. Another sunny, hot day with a welcoming breeze bringing  relief from the heat.
Species observed as follows;
Little Grebe (3 inc pair), Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (4), Mute Swan (pair), Greylag Goose (16 adults and creche of c12 young at Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (13 Lynsters Farm), Gadwall (32), Teal (pair from Rotunda), Mallard (9), Shoveler Duck (1), Pochard (6), Tufted Duck (10), Hobby (1 hawking above the reed bed), Moorhen (2 pairs), Coot (54 inc 2 pairs with young), Black-headed Gull (14 inc copulating pair at old coot nest), Common Tern (3 nesting pairs), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Swift (several over), Kingfisher (1 briefly), Green Woodpecker (1 at Long Hedge), Pied Wagtail (1 over briefly), Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush (4 singing male), Reed Warbler (2 singing male), Common Whitethroat (singing male at cricket pitch), Blackcap (3 singing male), Chiffchaff (singing male),  Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit (pair feeding fledged young at plantation), Jay (2), Magpie, Jackdaw (2 over briefly), Carrion Crow, Chaffinch (several singing male).
Butterflies;
Large White, Brimstone.
Dragonflies and Damselflies;
Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly.

                                           Black-tailed Skimmer (female) at Long Hedge