Heat Wave

30 June - A heatwave until 27th, with temperatures up to 30 degrees and increasing humidity. An evening walk at Blakehill with a bit of a breeze on 26th - fairly quiet, with no sign of Curlews, but a female Reed Bunting seen alongside the usual Skylarks, also Kestrel (hopefully breeding nearby) and a Buzzard. Green Woodpeckers also seen regularly at Blakehill. On 27th, cooler and a bit more windy, an adult Dunlin on Pit 200 with 9 Lapwings, and a fairly productive look at Pit 74 with a Red Kite, 4 Common Terns, and at least 35 Swifts and over a hundred hirundines (mainly Sand Martins) feeding low in the blustery conditions. A Hobby over on 29th also at Twitcher's Gate, but otherwise fairly quiet as we approach the quietest time of the year bird-wise.