After a very long drive back from Shropshire this morning it was great to just chill out in the back garden this afternoon, in the very warm sunshine.
Some great highlights, from the comfort of my Deckchair, with a dozen or so Yellow Wagtails all heading "north" to the Lower Horse Paddocks behind the Alessandria Hotel, a Tree Pipit heading south, 100's of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins feeding high up above Wakeham and several Swifts also making their way south.
In the back garden we had 3 Willow Warblers, with one of them having a wash in the pond.
Also in the back garden a Hummingbird Hawk-moth made a couple of appearances, feeding on the Valerian, and I also had my first ever "garden" Hornet Mimic Hoverfly visit. A male Common Darter made several visits to pond and tried to land on the surrounding Lavender, but was "forced" off by the local Bumblebees.
Here are a few images and a couple of videos from this afternoon:
The garden pond. It might be small but it attracted a Willow Warbler this afternoon.
Take off. Having just had a drink from the bottom bowl this Willow Warbler then had a a bathe in the pond
This is the Willow Warbler shaking off the water, after bathing in the garden pond.
Here is another Willow warbler making its way through the Hazel Tree in my neighours garden.
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the Valerian
This Hummingbird Hawk-moth visited the garden a couple of times this evening.
A male Common Darter
And my first Hornet Mimic Hoverfly in the garden
