A curious day with little on offer early and lots of staff and volunteers busy around the site. The walk down to Westmead was very quiet and nothing was on the pool despite being quite full after the heavy rain in recent days. From there round to Adder Alley little of note although a few Eristalis intricaria and at least eight Brown Hawkers. From the viewpoint, and later Jupps View, a Wood Sandpiper and five Green Sandpipers plus a single godwit and Mandarin. Highlights were a Marsh Harrier, a high Red Kite and a catch up with several people I don't get to see too often. A little purple patch on the way back with Chrysotoxum verralli (below) and this very smart soldierfly Stratiomys potamida which was a lifer. Anna kindly offered to show me where some 'Pantaloon' Bees were using the overflow carpark but sadly dipped out. Finally, some nice visitors on the heathland, probably 10-12 people in three families enjoying three Common Lizards basking on the Black Pond woodwork  - nice to perform some real hide/guide duties for a change.