20th July 2018: Mediterranean Gull

John: With increasing numbers of gulls around the reservoir, it perhaps wasn't too surprising that it would draw in something a bit different. Still, the discovery of 2 juvenile Mediterranean Gulls this lunchtime was a very notable sighting and a very welcome year-tick. Last year in particular Med Gulls were very thin on the ground. I watched them for around 15 minutes before they flew to the nearby warehouse roofs, but there is every chance they're still about so worth keeping an eye out for.

Also present was presumably the same Common Gull that's been around for sometime, as was the eclipse drake Mandarin Duck.

There has been further interest on the butterfly front this week. Today a very smart, fresh Painted Lady was nectaring on the thistles towards the northern end of the reservoir.

The small meadow, just beyond the style at the northern end has also produced a really nice selection of species too, with at least 4 Brown Argus, 2 Small Copper, 5 Common Blues, 1+ Essex Skipper and a couple of Small Skippers. This in addition to a number of more commoner species.