Slimbridge Greenshank

1 July - This superb picture of a Greenshank at Slimbridge (see my entry for July 8) was taken by Bob Shiret. Surely one of the most elegant waders.

Garden Hobby

14 July - A good view of a Hobby flying over the garden as I left for work this morning - the first this year over the house. Photo taken in CWP.

Slimbridge waders

8 July - I called in briefly at Slimbridge at midday, and good numbers of waders present in the showery weather. 5 Greenshanks, 2 Green Sandpipers (1-2), a Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover from Robbie Garnett hide - and excellent close views from South Lake observatory of 80+ Black-tailed Godwits, some in chestnut summer plumage (3-6); 35+ Redshank and 120+ Lapwings. The adult Spoonbill also still present, and awake and preening. Photos JM.

Swifts etc

1 July - Another good evening flying display over the garden, especially by screaming Swifts (1,2) - my maximum count this year is 12. House Martins (3)and Swallows (4) also very active and fledged Swallows are learning to fly.

Otmoor

1 July - A morning trip to the RSPB reserve, the highlight being my first-ever good view of a Grass Snake sunning itself (2) in a ditch near the car park. Birds included a Turtle Dove, 3 Hobbies (7-8), 3 Red Kites, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, an obliging Common Sandpiper by the first screen (3-5) and Lapwing (6), Redshank and Curlew. All photos JM.

Chukotka Spoon-billed Sandpiper expedition 2011

29 June - I have been following the SBS expedition blog (http://sbsproject.wordpress.com) and the fascinating attempts to harvest eggs from the wild in Arctic Russia, to raise Spoon-billed Sandpipers in captivity, using the expertise of Martin McGill and colleagues from Slimbridge WWT. This is being seen a last resort, as their extinction in the wild seems likely in the next decade. I have been fortunate enough to see this wonderful bird four times in the wild, both in winter quarters, and on spring migration in superb summer plumage - as in the fantastic photos above from the SBS blog, taken by Martin McGill (upper) and Jochen Dierschke (lower).

Slimbridge purple patch

25 June - A last-minute change of plan and a quick visit to Slimbridge as 3 excellent birds there today - I saw them all within an hour or so, and photographed 2 of them. A full adult Spoonbill was on South Lake (1-4) together with a 1st-summer Med Gull and 30+ Black-tailed Godwits (8). The breeding plumage female Red-necked Phalarope reappeared today from Zeiss hide (5), and a smart summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank was on the Tack piece from Robbie Garnett hide (6-7). All photos JM (except RN Phal, copyright James Lees WWT).