Friday 15th August

After a trip out of the county up to Thamesmead last night to see the White-winged Black Tern (which showed well, along with a Ring-necked Parakeet by the driving range and 80+ Swifts congregating over the M25/M2 junction on my return trip), I settled back into rustic Barming! A cycle around Oaken Wood at lunchtime produced very little in the way of birds and no calls or sight of Crossbills (although I've just seen Simon had12 in Mote Park today). I concentrated on the dragonflies and butterflies instead, and was pleased to see another Painted Lady, in the same location I'd seen one last week, but definitely a different individual has it had undamaged wings. A couple of Red Admirals and up to 10 Peacocks kept it company. An Emperor dragonfly majestically zoomed along the coppice with Southern and Migrant Hawker and Common Darter also putting in an appearance.