A quick drive in with precious little traffic and lovely blue skies. With good time made and arriving early (well 9am anyway) a walk south from the Black Rabbit produced a nice Barn Owl, a distant calling Cuckoo and the briefest glimpse of a Kingfisher. Once insidevWWT it was nice to watch this pair of Oystercatchers, one on eggs, from the restaurant window. A Ruby-tailed Wasp investigating the bee hotel and its Osmia residents plus Noon Fly were both new. Other birds were usual fare but at least one Lapwing chick was in the wet grassland. Long chat with Keith about his upcoming Spanish hike ending in Donana over a coffee.
By now, too busy so off to Lord's Piece to eat packed lunch, with just 1-2 Yellowhammers nearby and the backdrop sound of Field Crickets. Just too many dogs to enjoy a walk so went around to Burton Mill Pond where parking was tight due to a mill open day. By now the sun had disappeared behind enough cloud to discourage insects although a couple of Speckled Yellows kicked up from pathside vegetation were the first this year. Along the roadside path and boat dock just one fresh Scarce Chaser and several Variables amongst the other usual damsels. As it warmed a few Hairy Dragonflies appeared and two Hobbies started hawking. A Common Sandpiper skittered around the pond struggling to find a place to land.
