A new era begins with Mel having had her leaving do yesterday. Doesn't feel as if things will ever be quite the same again but maybe that's just 'rose-coloured spectacle syndrome'.

At Westmead, Pete picked up a Hobby which eventually sat in a distant tree until dislodged by four playful Buzzards. A single Greenshank flew in but decided against stopping and a Green Sandpiper called and was later seen along with a second bird on the North Brooks. A decent flock of 80+ Goldfinches were on teasel etc. Two perched up Wheatears were very distant and later three Spotted Flycatchers were around Adder Alley as was a Chrysotoxum festivum.

The North Brooks had two Ruff and 250+ Teal, a couple of Bullfinches.

Caught up with Andy Jones, Nick Paul and Terry who was having an awayday at PB plus Gary, Alan and Graham and a few staff members.