Please note that this is my own personal blog and therefore the views and opinions expressed, although in no way intended to be controversial, are not necessarily those shared by my employers Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd. and Ilchester Estates . All photos are © Steve Groves unless otherwise credited.



Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Swannery Bird Sightings - August 2020...

Waterfowl... 

The Canada Goose moult flock had largely dispersed by the end of last month meaning there was only a count of one-hundred and twenty-three during the August's WeBS count. The summering Barnacle Goose began to become more erratic in its appearances too and it was last seen on the 19th. The Mute Swan herd  numbered seven-hundred and forty-two during the WeBS, along with around two-hundred unfledged cygnets, while the resident Whooper Swan was still present throughout.

As expected Shelduck numbers dropped as adults moved off to moult elsewhere, with around twenty present early in the month but with only single figures (most, if not all first calendar year's) by the month's end.  Shoveler numbers increased from single figures in the first week to over twenty in the last; whilst Gadwall were only seen on six dates with a maxima of only three on the 2nd and 15th. The summering Wigeon was joined by at least four others on the 10th and the monthly maxima was seven on the 14th. Mallard numbers nearly doubled from last month with four-hundred and eighty counted during the WeBS. The summering Pintail was joined by an equally suspect tame individual on the 9th and both then lingered throughout, although, what was probably a different more flighty individual was present on the 31st. Teal numbers increased from single figures in the first few days to over twenty from the 4th and then at least fifty from the 14th. Pochard remained in single figures until the 23rd when sixteen were present, with around that number remaining until the month's end but in contrast Tufted Duck remained in single figures throughout.

Image

Pochards, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler


Waders...

Three Oystercatchers (the last remaining family group) lingered until the 17th with none seen subsequently; two Avocets were present on the 30th;  one to five Lapwings were present daily; single Golden Plovers were noted on the 8th and 14th; single Grey Plovers were present on the 11th and 19th; Ringed Plovers were seen regularly but sixteen on the 30th was the only double figure count; and Little Ringed Plovers were seen on three dates, with one on the 3rd, two on the 5th and one on the 19th. 

Whimbrels were noted on three dates, with one on the 7th, three on the 10th and two on the 19th; single Curlews were seen on four dates; the only Bar-tailed Godwit was present on the 11th; and Black-tailed Godwits were seen on seven dates, with a peak of nine on the 15th.

Turnstones were noted on seven dates, with a peak of at least seven on the 31st; Knots were seen on five dates, with a peak of around twenty on the 29th; A
Curlew Sandpiper was present on the 30th and three were seen on the 31st (all first calendar year's); two Sanderlings were present on the 18th, with one on the 19th; whilst Dunlin were regular with a peak of at least forty on the 31st.  


Knots (& Mute Swan), Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves


Dunlin, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves


Image

Curlew Sandpipers, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell



The first Snipe since April was seen on the 4th and there were then regular sightings with a peak of nine on the 31st; Common Sandpipers  were seen daily with a peak of at least fifteen on the 19th; Green Sandpipers were regular with a peak of five on the 2nd; Redshanks were also seen regularly with a peak of at least ten on the 30th/31st; single Wood Sandpipers were noted on the 2nd (a year to the day from the last sighting) and on the 11th; and single Greenshanks were seen on the 14th and 17th.

Image

Redshanks, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler



Wood Sandpiper, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves


Image

Greenshank, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Image

Greenshank, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Gulls, Terns & Skuas...

A (first calendar year) Kittiwake was seen on the 25th; Black-headed Gulls were seen daily with one-hundred and eighty counted on the WeBS;  Mediterranean Gulls were regular with a peak of over thirty on the 7th; single Common Gulls were seen on the 7th, 9th and 17th; Great Black-backed Gulland Herring Gulls were present daily with regular single figure counts of the former and a peak of over two-hundred of the latter on the 7th; single (first calendar year) Yellow-legged Gulls were seen on the 5th and 20th, whilst two were present on the 30th; Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen fairly regularly with a peak of at least five on the 29th. 


Image

Yellow-legged Gull, (1st calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, August  2020 © Joe Stockwell



Sandwich Terns were seen regularly, with a peak of at least nine on the 31st; a (first calendar year) Little Tern was present on the 30th; Common Terns peaked at ten plus on the 1st/2nd but then only single figures were seen until the 20th, with none subsequently; single Arctic Terns were seen on the 13th and 27th.

Sandwich Terns, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Steve Groves


A Great Skua (the first since October 2016) was seen on the 22nd, whilst a small skua species seen distantly and briefly on the 17th was thought most likely to have been a Long-tailed Skua (the last confirmed sighting of which was in October 2008).

Other Seabirds...

Single Fulmars overflew the embayment on the 13th and 15th; whilst single Gannets did the same on the 17th and 21st; Cormorants though were present daily, with eighteen counted during the WeBS.

Image

Fulmar, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler


Other Water-birds...

Water RailsMoorhens and Coots were all present throughout, with the latter increasing to three-hundred and thirty-five by the 23rd (WeBS). Little Grebes increased to seven from the 19th; whilst Great Crested Grebes. stayed stable at around thirty. Cattle Egrets were seen regularly, with a peak of at least four on the 31st; there were regular single figures counts of Grey HeronsGreat Egret was seen on the 12th; whilst ever-present Little Egrets peaked at over fifty on the 17th. Kingfishers were seen regularly, with at least three on the 31st. 

Image

Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler


Image

Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Charlie Wheeler


Image

Kingfisher, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Hawks, Owls & Falcons... 

Hobby was seen on the 14th; single Marsh Harriers were seen on four dates; there were regular sightings of Ospreys from the 14th, mostly singles but two were present on the 18th and 31st; single SparrowhawksPeregrines and Barn Owls  were seen regularly; Tawny Owls were either seen or heard on three dates (but no doubt present throughout); whilst single figures of Buzzards and Kestrels were seen daily.

Image

Hobby, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Image

Marsh Harrier, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Image

Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Image

Osprey, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Image

Sparrowhawk, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Joe Stockwell



Other Non-passerines... 

Swifts were seen regularly, with counts of up to fifty to the 11th but with then only single figures to the 19th and then none until a single on the 31st; PheasantFeral PigeonStock DoveWood PigeonCollared DoveGreat Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were all present throughout.                                                                                             

Passerines... 

JayMagpieJackdawRookCarrion Crow and Raven were all present in varying numbers and frequency; as were Coal Tit Blue TitGreat Tit and Long-tailed Tit

Sand Martins and House Martins were seen regularly with a peak of thirty of the former and a peak of fifty of the latter on the 13th; Swallows were present daily with a peak of 200 on the 6th

The warblers that nested, namely Cetti's WarblersChiffchaffs, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats, were all still present but there numbers were boosted by many others of their kind passing through; passage Willow Warblers were numerous too; whilst two  Garden Warblers were seen on the 4th, with another on the 13th; and a Grasshopper Warbler was seen on the 17th. 

Goldcrests, Wrens, TreecreepersDunnocks, and Starlings were all present throughout, the latter's reed-bed roost building up to at least two-hundred and fifty in number by the month's end.  

Blackbirds and  Song Thrushes were present throughout; whilst Mistle Thrushes were seen on four dates, peaking at at least ten on the 28th. The only Spotted Flycatcher was seen on the 4th; but Pied Flycatchers were seen on the 14th (one) and 18th (two).  Robins were present throughout; whilst Redstarts were noted on the 27th (one), 30th (two) and 31st (one); single Whinchats were seen on the 13th and 27th; Stonechats were present on the 11th (one) and 13th (two); but Wheatears were regular, with ten plus on a few dates. 

There were only a couple of sightings of Skylarks and no sightings of Meadow Pipits at all but as both bred in the surrounding pasture it seems likely that both were still present throughout. Single Tree Pipits were noted on the 13th, 14th and 31st; single figure counts of Yellow Wagtails were regular in the first half of the month but from the 17th double figure counts were the norm with a peak of at least thirty on several dates; single Grey Wagtails were noted on the 11th and 17th but with at least three on the 31st; and Pied Wagtails were present throughout. 

Image

Yellow Wagtail, Abbotsbury Swannery, August 2020 © Kev Butler


House SparrowsChaffinches,  Linnets and Reed Buntings were all present throughout, whilst a Bullfinch was heard on the 14th and Greenfinches were noted on the 13th, 17th and 29th; 





That's it for this post except to thank Alan Barrett, Kev Butler, Joe Stockwell, Nick Urch, and Charlie Wheeler for their sightings and where applicable for the use of their photos. 

September 2020 sightings to follow shortly.  
 

Steve Groves.

Friday, 14 August 2020

Swannery Bird Sightings - July 2020...

Highlights...

Roseate Tern was present briefly on the 18th. Bearing a ring it was clearly different from last month's bird.


Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves


The first Cattle Egret since April arrived on the 15th, being joined by a second on the 17th and seven more on the 18th. The flock then flew west and were not seen again.

Cattle Egret, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Two
Great Egrets were present briefly on the 21st, the first since February.

The first Osprey since April, flew west on the 17th.

Waterfowl... 

The Canada Goose moult flock still consisted of around eight-hundred and fifty (along with a the few home bred family parties) early in the month and the Barnacle Goose still lingered throughout. The Mute Swan moult flock numbered around seven-hundred, along with around two-hundred breeding birds and their young, while the resident Whooper Swan was still present throughout.

As usual the most numerous ducks (and the only ones breeding) were Shelduck (with around forty present); Mallard (with around two-hundred and fifty present) and Tufted Duck with around  fifty present early in the month (although unlike the former two species, only one brood was seen). The first Shovelers for several weeks were seen on the 24th and peaked at eight on the 29th.  while also the first Gadwall for several weeks were present on the 13th with a peak of five on the 20th. Over-summering single drakes of Pochard, WigeonPintail and Teal were present throughout but the latter was joined by up to seven others from the 13th.

Waders...

Oystercatchers peaked at twelve on the 5th (and the pair on the Tern Island fledged a chick making a total of two from the four pairs present this year). The post-breeding Lapwing flock increased from three last month to five this month; an unseasonable Golden Plover was present from the 14th to the 17th; single Ringed Plovers were seen on three dates; and single Little Ringed Plovers were seen on four dates. 

Golden Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Golden Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Little Ringed Plover, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Charlie Wheeler


The first returning Whimbrel was seen on the 9th with one to three then noted on four further dates; Single Curlews were seen on three dates; one to two Bar-tailed Godwits on three dates; whilst Black-tailed Godwits were present virtually daily with a peak of ten on the 8th.

Black-tailed Godwit, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Three Turnstones were present on the 19th and there were then further singles on three dates; single Knots were seen on the 7th and 22nd; Sanderlings were present on five dates with a peak of six on the 20th; whilst Dunlin were regular with counts of between thirty and forty from the 19th to the 22nd.
 

Dunlins, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves


Common Sandpipers  
were seen daily with peaks of nine plus in the last week; Green Sandpipers were present, pretty much daily too with a peak of at least seven on the 30th; Redshanks were also seen almost daily from the 10th with a peak of eight on the 16th; and single Greenshanks were seen on three dates but with two present on the 22nd.

Green Sandpiper, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Greenshank, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell


Gulls & Terns...  

Following not long after the bird in May, two equally unseasonable Kittiwakes were present briefly on the 12th. 


Kittiwakes , Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves


Meanwhile Black-headed Gulls fledged the last of their young from The Tern Island and with birds dispersing away numbers dropped to around seventy early in the month. There was a marked increase in Mediterranean Gulls however, with a count of over two-hundred and thirty on the 3rd. There was a fairly high percentage of juveniles too, joining the juvenile fledged from The Tern Island (the first for the Fleet).


Mediterranean Gull (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 
© Steve Groves


A Common Gull seen on the 19th though, was the only one of the month. Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls were present daily with regular counts of around twenty of the former and one-hundred to two-hundred of the latter;  At least two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were present on the 4th with a single on the 31st; An adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen on the 4th, whilst the first juvenile was seen on the 12th. Single juveniles were then seen on seven other dates, with three on the 13th and at least two on the 27th. 


Yellow-legged Gull (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 
© Steve Groves

Yellow-legged Gull (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 
© Steve Groves


The Common Terns fledged at least eighty young from The Tern Island but with social distancing it was not possible to ring the chicks this year so an accurate count was impossible. Over one-hundred adults were still present early in the month but numbers dropped dramatically by the month's end as the breeding birds and there young dispersed elsewhere.  

Common Tern (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves


As expected, single figures of Sandwich Terns continued to be seen throughout but totally unexpected was a flurry of Little Tern records, with birds present daily from the 12th to the 31st, including eleven together on the 22nd.  This former breeder is now barely annual, in fact there was only a single sighting last year. 

Sandwich Tern (first calendar year), Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves
Little Terns, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves



Other Water-birds...

Water RailsMoorhens and Coots were all still raising young, while the post breeding flock of the latter increased to around one-hundred and thirty. The post-breeding/moulting grebe flock consisted of up to three Little Grebes and at least thirty Great Crested Grebes. The first Kingfisher since March was seen on the 17th, with another present on the 31st. There were regular single figures counts of Grey Herons and mid-teen counts of Little Egrets. The nesting Cormorants fledged the last of their young and at least twenty adults and juveniles roosted nightly. In addition a flock of twenty flew west on the 30th.

Cormorant , Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Charlie Wheeler

Predatory Birds...

There were daily sightings of Buzzards and Kestrels, and the pair of Barn Owls and there two young were seen regularly. 

Barn Owl , Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Charlie Wheeler


Single Marsh Harriers were seen on six dates and Peregrines on four. There was however only one sighting each of Sparrowhawk and Red Kite.


Other Land-birds...

PheasantFeral PigeonStock DoveWood PigeonCollared DoveGreat Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were all present. 

Swifts were seen regularly, mostly in single figures but with groups of ten to fifty on occasion, whilst an impressive movement on the 3rd involved at least nine-hundred. The nesting Swallows were boosted by other local breeders and most days twenty to fifty were present, whilst post breeding dispersal brought good numbers of Sand Martins too, with counts of up to two-hundred on at least two dates. House Martins were seen less frequently but over twenty were present on the 9th at least. 

Swallows, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Joe Stockwell
 
Sand Martins, Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves

JayMagpieJackdawRookCarrion Crow and Raven were all present in varying numbers and frequency.

Blue TitsGreat Tits and Long-tailed Tits were all still present, whilst Coal Tits that arrived back last month also increased in number. 

Cetti's WarblersChiffchaffsSedge WarblersReed WarblersBlackcapsWhitethroats and Goldcrests were all still present (with no doubt their numbers being swelled by local and not so local bred birds); whilst the first returning  Willow Warblers were seen from the 14th.  

Dunnocks,   WrensBlackbirdsSong Thrushes and Robins were all still present, though the only Stonechat was a single on the 1st. Starling numbers (mostly juveniles) increased dramatically though, with at least three-hundred roosting on several dates. 

SkylarksMeadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were all still present, being joined by a Grey Wagtail on the 28th and single Yellow Wagtails on five dates from the 7th but with three on the 29th and two on the 31st. 

House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Linnets and Reed Buntings were all still present, whilst a few Siskins were heard on the 6th. 

Linnet , Abbotsbury Swannery, July 2020 © Steve Groves


That's it for this post except to thank Alan Barrett, Kev Butler, Joe Stockwell, Nick Urch, and Charlie Wheeler for their sightings and where applicable for the use of their photos. 

August 2020 sightings to follow shortly.  
 

Steve Groves.





Saturday, 11 July 2020

Swannery Bird Sightings - June 2020...

Highlights...

The first Roseate Tern of the year was present on the 8th and it was seen again briefly on the 20th...


Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Even more noteworthy these days was a Turtle Dove that was seen briefly in flight on the 11th.  

Waterfowl... 

The Canada Goose moult flock consisted of over eight-hundred (along with a few home bred family parties) and they were joined by a Barnacle Goose on the 4th, that then lingered for the rest of the month and a Greylag Goose on the 8th, which only stayed to the 15th...

Greylag Goose, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves

The Mute Swan moult flock numbered around five-hundred, along with around two-hundred breeding birds and their young, while the resident Whooper Swan was present throughout.

As usual the most numerous ducks (and the only ones breeding) were Mallard (with around two-hundred present) and Shelduck (with around forty present)...

Shelduck ducklings, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves

Around thirty Tufted Duck, ten Pochard and up to eight Teal were present through out, as where unseasonable singles of Wigeon and Pintail. The only Shoveler were a pair on the 7th/8th, while up to four Gadwall were present early in the month but not seen after the 12th.

Waders...

Of the four breeding pairs of Oystercatchers, one pair fledged one chick and one pair still had at least one chick set to fledge on the Tern Island but unfortunately the other two pairs failed. The post-breeding Lapwing flock (having not bred here for awhile now) increased from two last month to three this month: four Ringed Plover (another former breeder), were seen on the 8th and a single Little Ringed Plover was present on the 26th. 

A single Curlew was seen on the 16th and two Black-tailed Godwits were present on the 3rd/4th with singles then seen regularly until the 30th when three were present...

Black-tailed Godwit (islandica), Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves

A single Turnstone was present on the 22nd and a ruffed Ruff was present briefly on the 27th... 

Turnstone, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves
Ruff (male), Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Joe Stockwell

A combined total of six Dunlin were seen on three dates; Redshanks were seen sporadically with a peak of four on the 14th; the first returning Common Sandpiper was seen on the 4th, with it or another on the 8th, with then regular sightings of up to three daily from the 22nd; the first returning Green Sandpiper arrived on the 14th, with one or two then present most days to the 30th...

Green Sandpiper, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Kev Butler

Gulls & Terns...  

Black-headed Gulls peaked at over one hundred on several dates and Mediterranean Gulls peaked at around forty on the 7th.  Both species bred, with the twenty or so pairs of the former beginning to fledge the first of their young by the months end; while a single large but unfledged chick of the latter was discovered on the 28th. Bizarrely though it was being fed by Common Terns!  A third calendar year pair of Mediterranean Gulls had been observed nest building in the spring but then apparently moved on, but not before laying at least one fertile egg it would seem. Presumably it was then incubated (alongside their own eggs?) by a pair of Common Terns that used the vacated nest. Whatever the chain of events, if the chick fledges, it will be the first successful nesting of the species on The Fleet!

In addition to the above nesting gulls there were regular single figure counts of Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and to a lesser extent Lesser Black-backed Gull; whilst an unseasonable Common Gull was seen on the 4th.
 
The fifty or so pairs of nesting Common Terns were still doing well, whilst passing terns included near daily single figures of Sandwich Terns (though ten plus were seen on the 14th); and in addition to the Roseate Tern, were a (first for the year) Little Tern on the 15th and a (first for the year) Arctic Tern on the 7th.


Roseate Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves
Roseate Tern with Common Terns, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Charlie Wheeler
 

Other Water-birds...

Water Rails were heard on a couple of occasions so presumably still breeding as were more obviously Moorhen and Coot, with an incoming post breeding flock of around forty of the latter by the end of the month. On the 23rd the first couple of returning Little Grebes joined the over-summering (non-breeding) Great Crested Grebe flock, which  peaked at over thirty mid-month. 

There were regular low single figures counts of Grey Heronsand mid-teen counts of Little Egrets... 

Little Egret, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves

The five pairs of nesting Cormorants and their young still lingered; a Gannet overflew the beach and embayment on the 3rd, as did a Fulmar on the 8th...


Fulmar, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Joe Stockwell

Predatory Birds...

There were regular sightings of Buzzard and Kestrel along with the occasional Sparrowhawk, so presumably all were nesting in the near vicinity. Single Marsh Harriers were regular too but there was no evidence of breeding; whilst this month's sole Red Kite was present on the 16th/17th only. The month's only Peregrine was seen on the 12th, the same day as the first Hobby of the year but another of the latter was seen on the 30th.

The pair of Barn Owls fledged two young but the pair of Little Owls were not seen after the 3rd so are believed to have failed this year.  Tawny Owls were not even heard, let alone seen but it seems inconceivable that there wasn't at least one pair present.

Other Non-Passerines...

The highlight was the Turtle Dove mentioned above (and as it was not photographed, below is a picture of the last bird in October 2018)...

Turtle Dove, Abbotsbury Swannery, October 2018 © Steve Groves

Swifts were seen regularly and peaked at over one hundred on the 3rd, at least a few of which were nesting in the village; whilst PheasantFeral PigeonStock DoveWood PigeonCollared DoveGreat Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were all present too and all nesting at least within the local area if not all in the actual grounds. 

Passerines...

Spotted Flycatcher on the 8th was the only obvious late spring migrant but return migration, or at least post-breeding dispersal, became apparent by the end of the month with single figures of Sand Martin from the 14th; a Firecrest on the 17th; and single Crossbills on the 24th and 27th (the first of the latter since December 2018). There were also sightings of single Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail and a pair of Mistle Thrush and all also fall into the latter category, as none bred at The Swannery this year. 

All seen regularly in varying numbers and either breeding within The Swannery or in the very near vicinity were: Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Cetti's Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Stonechat, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet and Reed Bunting.

As there is a lack of passerine photos this month here's a couple of insect pics from June to end this month's post...

Azure Damselfly, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves 


Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Abbotsbury Swannery, June 2020 © Steve Groves
  

So that's it for this post except to thank Alan Barrett, Kev Butler, Joe Stockwell, Nick Urch, Steve Waite and Charlie Wheeler for their sightings and where applicable for the use of their photos. 

July 2020 sightings to follow shortly.  
 

Steve Groves.