#gypsywort

The Pied Flycatcher is the first I've ever seen at Lakeside, a fairly rare bird that I didn't first see in my life until 2020 so this was a big one to turn up on my patch. I was thrilled to see it with Spotted Flycatcher quite a special bird for Lakeside in itself only the fourth time I've seen one at Lakeside, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tits in a procession of birds flitting around willow trees including a few migrants with House Martins overhead. Brilliant early autumn birdwatching. Two Kingfishers at lunch time, Ring-necked Parakeet heard, Speckled Wood, Small White, Migrant Hawker, great willowherb, gypsywort and red valerian were other highlights today.

Lesser Black-backed Gull and gypsywort at Lakeside Country Park 11/08/2025. Perhaps my last Swift sighting of the year with most departed locally now, Kingfisher, Cormorant, Black-tailed Skimmer, Gatekeeper and tufted vetch were other highlights on a memorable couple of walks at Lakeside today.

It was also good to see Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Great Crested Grebes closely, Grey Heron flying, possibly a Kingfisher heard, hogweed, red clover, hawkbit, self-heal, cleavers, old man's beard, rose hips and blackberries at Lakeside. Starling, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Magpie and rose hips were good to see at home.

View at Lakeside Country Park at lunch time and hemp agrimony, fleabane and gypsywort there this evening 26th August 2025. It was also good to see Cormorants, House Martins, Small Copper, Small White, guelder rose berries and purple loosestrife today.

Other highlights today were another Jersey Tiger moth at Lakeside, House Martin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Southern Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, red bartsia, wild carrot, bird's-foot trefoil, gypsywort, hemp agrimony, purple loosestrife and rowan berries.

The meadows all at once buzzing with butterflies; Meadow Brown, many Gatekeepers, a late Marbled White for here, Small Skipper and Six-spot Burnet moths. Small White, Comma, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue good to see too. Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly darting around and Blue-tailed Damselfly seen, the essence of summer. Overhead Swift and noisy House Martins were effortlessly gliding; Chiffchaff, young Black-headed and Herring Gull, the Great Crested Grebes and Greylag Geese were great to see too. Other fabulous flowers seen today included my first gypsywort of the year, massive hogweed, fleabane, creeping thistle and red bartsia with guelder rose berries and blackberries enjoyed too. At home Goldfinch, Jackdaw and fuchsia were nice to see.