July 6th
A group of 6 Grey Heron flew over Longis reserve at about 8am from the direction of Mannez lighthouse, likely fresh in from France. A male Sparrowhawk (I suspect a young male given his several failed attempts to catch Meadow Pipits) was over Longis common. A Hobby showed well over Essex farm late morning and by coincidence I noticed several of one of its favoured prey, the Emperor dragonfly earlier this morning.
We seem to have moved up a gear suddenly with lots more birds around during the last few days and the increase of young birds reflected in the ringing. A total of 77 new birds were ringed at our Essex Farm site, nothing unexpected but a very nice spread of 18 species, this very fine specimen of a male Greenfinch one of 7 ringed today.
Male Greenfinch Essex Farm