Unexpectedly good session at Strumpshaw Fen!

Some days you can plod around the patch and see absolutely nothing: that's just how it goes. Today, however, a mid-morning run round produced a decent selection of birds and insects!

First bird to have a camera pointed in its direction was a Red Kite, being hassled by a very dark Marsh Harrier near the 'boardwalk'.

A move to Tower Hide produced photogenic Ruff and Common Tern, but little else. A stop on the way back to Reception revealed two teeny Swallowtail Caterpillars, while the woodland path held at least three White Admirals, several Brown Hawkers and a pair of Southern Hawkers.

Last stop was Reception Hide, where a Hobby hawked across the broad for several minutes. A solitary clump of Milk Parsley held yet more Swallowtail caterpillars...