June 2026

14th. Common lizard and 2 grass snakes at Ham Wall. One of the grass snakes had a cloudy brille (ocular scale) suggesting it was close to moult.

Great reed warbler singing at Shapwick Heath, close to Noah's Hide.

At Catcott Lows we saw 3 cattle egret, heard some cranes, and also saw a male marsh harrier, a bittern and heard a distant Savi's warbler. Lots of peacock larvae on the nettles.

10th. Hetty spotted the squacco heron flying into Herriot's Pool at Chew Valley Lake at dusk. I also saw a common tern, marsh harrier, hobby, 2 cattle egret and hundreds of swifts. A cuckoo was calling. Record shot of the heron below - looks like an immature bird.

9th. We found 5 bee orchids on Durdham Downs.

8th. The two adult peregrines were in the Avon Gorge. No sign of any flying juveniles.