The Kestrel sits looking over the newly cleared scrape...

it offers an excellent hunting ground ...

The Stonechats are returning for the winter ... this one sitting above a Reed Bunting...

and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker is checking the dead trees for grubs....

A Treecreeper spotted by the gate into the south meadow...

and plenty of insect activity in a sheltered hedge by the Mayfield Road Entrance gate...

Confrontation!

Pink candyfloss clouds making a beautiful sunset over the wetlands tonight...

This last week seems to be the week for Red Admiral butterflies... this one was sunning itself on some reeds by the path at the back of the main pool...

and flying up and down the river you might see this shape as I did this morning.... a cormorant

And a single swan on the main pool today, looking very pale... yes that's a colour photo!

Its Autumn!  The hedgerows are bursting with Autumn fruits...

the blackberry season is being enjoyed by the starlings...

a Blackbird rather likes the elderberries...

but the Long-tailed Tit here is probably more interested in tiny insects rather than the hawthorn berries themselves ....

as is the Wren...

and this Great Spotted Woodpecker will also be looking for insects... under the bark....

and here a Comma Butterfly is taking shelter from the breezy weather...

Fishing Fest down on the main pool...

The Heron and Little Egret share a favourite fishing spot while a Black headed gull looks out for opportunities....

And above them, the Kingfisher is also fishing from his perch....

Meanwhile, on the river, it is bath time in the shallows for a swan family...

and over the pools, the dragonflies are zipping about...

a Brown Hawker in flight!...

and a Migrant Hawker having a rest...

Two Little Egrets have been spotted down at the Meadows... this one is perching out of the way of the Heron who thinks he owns the fishing rights on the pool....

and the warm sunshine has brought out lots of dragonflies... such as this pair of Common Darters "hanging on"...

A Little Egret dancing for its dinner... With water levels down, there are lots of fish to chase in the main pool...

A beautiful Green Woodpecker passes down the big hedge...

and a Reed Warbler flits among the reeds by the board walk...

If you have ever wondered what stinging nettles are for .....

Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars love them!

A Gatekeeper butterfly on bindweed flowers...

insects love the bindweed flowers too....

and Sedge Warblers love the insects...

and the purple haze of Willow Herb adds colour to the view!

Thistles...

going...

going...

gone!

but still useful!

A Marbled White butterfly making the best of a brief period of warm sunshine ...

In the meadow, the Cow Parsley is over...

Thistles are the next new thing...

but on the pool, 5 young cygnets swim serenely on...

If you go down to the Meadows today (or tomorrow for the Bioblitz) these are some of the things you might find...

A young Reed Warbler being fed by its parent...

some beautiful grasses...

some interesting insects...

a Banded Demoiselle

and some youngsters looking more like their parents every day!

Sunrise on the meadow...

Cygnets - 4 in a row...

Proud parents announcing 5 new cygnets....