Date: 18th July 2026
Time: from 8:15 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 16°C to 19°C
My first visit to the reserve in July was relatively quiet with very few species seen or heard, as expected for mid-summer, but it did produce some exceptional records.
During my visit, I added a new species to my all-time site list: Reed Warbler.
I
also added 4 other species to my 2026 site list: Common Tern, Brown
Argus, Small Copper and Gatekeeper.
I saw a single Reed Warbler moving through the reeds in Meadow Pond although, frustratingly it was impossible to get a photo due to the dense vegetation. This bird seemed to have very “fresh” plumage and I am guessing that it was a juvenile from this year that had dispersed from its natal area (maybe Wat Tyler Country Park?) prior to migration.
I fully anticipated recording my first Gatekeeper of the year during my visit (at least 10 seen) but Common Tern, Brown Argus and Small Copper were all totally unexpected and only my second annual records after first records in 2023 for all 3 species.
Unfortunately, I failed to see, let alone photograph, at least 2 loudly calling Common Terns overhead due to being in the area between the storage shed and the eastern section of the reserve where there is a dense tree canopy.
I saw at least 4 Brown Argus, all in the Thorny Wood area, but it took a review of my photos to confirm the identification as opposed to the Common Blues also in this area.
I saw 2 Small Coppers, the first alongside the path adjacent to Thorny Wood and the other in the Thorny Wood area itself.
During
my visit, I recorded 6 species of butterfly. In addition to the 3
species mentioned above, I also recorded Common Blue (2), Speckled
Wood (1) and Meadow Brown (at least 10).
Yet again, there was a complete absence of any dragonflies and damselflies on Meadow Pond but I did see 3 Common Blue Damselflies in the vegetation adjacent to the path before reaching the Thorny Wood area and the storage shed.
The only other notable bird species recorded during my visit was Chiffchaff, with 2 calling birds heard but not seen in the eastern section of the reserve.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Total species list for the site:
Love nature .... act now
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