Recent Site Updates:
- I’ve added a Nathusius’ Pipistrelle page, linked from the Wildlife > Mammals pages. Whilst it includes general information about the species, I’m currently adding records of those Nathusius’ we’ve caught locally since we started in 2011. I’m sharing ring details in the public domain, for future reference, and have annotated captures of special significance. I’m including the Bat Diary I wrote between 2014-2019 while we took part in the build up to, and running of, the BCT National Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Project as well.
- I’m gradually getting on with re-installing photographs into the diary since the new website came into being, and have completed the years back to 2011 so far.
- I’ve been making some improvements to navigation around the Diary on the site by adding footers to get to previous/next months directly, rather than having to go through the main drop down menu. This is ongoing and working backwards in time.
Last update: 17th April 2026
Diary: Click on the Main Menu to bring up this page, which will show news and sightings for the current month below. To see archived news, click on the year from the Main Menu Diary drop down to access news month by month. News is archived back to 2011 currently. I hope it provides a valuable resource to those of you interested in the birds and wildlife of the lake. Have fun exploring, there are over 500 pages and 3000 photos.
July 2026
Common Blue Damselfly male, Green Lawn © Nigel Milbourne 2026
Friday 10th July [Scorchio]
I was in Bath for most of the day, but had a look around in the early evening. There didn’t appear to be any waders today, but I counted a minimum 22 Great Black-backed Gulls (one of which was yellow D:IE again). I also noted eight Great White Egrets, nine Cattle Egrets and 25 Little Egrets, while I counted at least eight Lesser Emperor dragonflies, and one Common Darter, on the east side of Rainbow Point with many others (not counted) also seen along the way from the Lodge. 24 spp. Avon Birds carried another report, this time from Andy D., of four Great White Egrets, 14 Little Egrets (one juv), four Cattle Egrets (one juv), five Grey Herons, and 16 Lesser Emperor dragonflies.
Thursday 9th July [Hot]
An evening visit saw a few new birds starting to turn up with a Green Sandpiper briefly at the dam, two Little Ringed Plovers (adult and juvenile) in front of the Lodge and a Teal on Tiny’s Shallow. I also noted a single Great White Egret without checking Top End because I ran out of daylight while I was building up the herptile heap, that Mark H. and I created, with new material. 24 spp.
During the day, I saw three Red Kites together over Rickford as I drove back up the Combe, and another overhead as I walked to the gym via Fuller’s Hay.
Wednesday 8th July [Hot]
I spent the morning in discussions with Bristol Water at Chew Valley Lake, about the conservation project I’m engaged in, then had some time out on the water scoping some proposed work with a contractor. We saw a number of Lesser Emperor, Emperor and blue damselfly spp. while we were out there. I heard a Cetti’s Warbler, Garden Warbler and Blackcap singing along the Bittern Trail, and saw quite a few egrets in flight, with Great White and Cattle in front of the east shore public hide when we popped in.
Tuesday 7th July [Late sunshine & a steady breeze]
I had a birding walk from home to Wood Bay Point and back during which I saw 13 Shelduck in front of the FIshing Lodge, three of which were juveniles. There didn’t appear to be any waders on the margins that are being exposed around the lake as the level continues to drop. Once again there were quite a few egrets, but it is hard to put a definitive number on those present, with all the comings-and-goings, especially among the Cattle Egrets. I settled for those I could count in one sweep from Rainbow Point plus a couple of others I’d seen on the way there: 13 Little, four Cattle and six Great White Egrets. 27 spp.
Monday 6th July [Sunny, with a steady breeze]
Andy D. reported seven Shelduck at Rugmoor around 1000 hrs this morning, and Chris P. saw them on the west corner of Green Lawn in the evening before they flew off west towards the coast. Thanks guys – I think these are the first Shelduck reported at the lake this year, and probably the largest group ever seen here too!
Friday 3rd July [Dry, sunny & breezy.]
This afternoon I decided to have a look for Dragonflies and Damselflies again. While I was there, I saw six Egyptian Geese on the dam wall, and three Oystercatchers (found by Merv P. -cheers for the text mate) in front of the Fishing Lodge. It was virtually impossible to count the egrets, they were really mobile and the Cattle Egrets especially were in and out from the lake to surrounding farmland all the time. I settled on two Great White, three Little, and 15+ Cattle Egrets, but there were probably many more. 30 spp. As for the Odonata, there was a single patrolling Lesser Emperor, two Emperors, two Common Darters and two Black-tailed Skimmers at Green Lawn. I also saw Common Blue and Small Red-eyed Damselflies there too.
Oystercatcher, Fishing Lodge © Nigel Milbourne 2026
Thursday 2nd July [Sunshine & breezy]
I counted 185 Canada Geese, two Egyptian Geese, three Gadwall, 22+ Cattle Egrets, two Little Egrets, two Great White Egrets, and logged a Great Black-backed Gull (sub-adult) with a yellow darvic D:IE so, probably, ringed on Denny Island in the Bristol Channel. 30 spp.
Small Red-eyed Damselfly male, Green Lawn © Nigel Milbourne 2026
Wednesday 1st July [Mainly sunny after overnight rain]
Andy D. was at the lake this morning, again, and counted a Great White Egret, 18 Little Egrets and 14 Cattle Egrets (including a juvenile), plus a Red Kite. Interestingly, in the evening, I counted three Great White, four Little and 20+ Cattle Egrets at roost before I left. 26 spp.
June 2026
Tuesday 30th June [Sunshine & showers]
I went to the lake late in the day and counted seven Great White, nine Little and ten Cattle Egrets, plus a new brood of two Mallard ducklings. The level has dropped sufficiently now for waterbirds to be able to stand and roost on Tiny’s Shallow in front of the Fishing Lodge, so if things continue in the same vein then we might actually start to attract waders now that some species are already on their return migration from breeding grounds further north. I estimate the water level to be around 68-70% currently. 27 spp.
The Hummingbird Hawk-moth is still paying the lavender on our patio periodic visits to top up its energy reserves today.
Monday 29th June [Cool, and mainly sunny]
Andy D. paid the lake a visit today and recorded two Great White Egrets, 28 Little Egrets and 22 Cattle Egrets (including two juveniles). Thanks Andy.
Sunday 28th June [Cool & breezy]
Not taken at the lake, but I saw this Hummingbird Hawk-moth over the patio this afternoon – one to look out for in your gardens while the sun shines.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Blagdon garden © Nigel Milbourne 2026
Friday 26th June [Very hot]
I decided to venture out this afternoon as the heat started to go off the day. It wasn’t so hot locally today, although another June record temperature was set in the east of England. I wanted to look for large dragonflies and found four Emperors, two of which were ovipositing females, nine male Lesser Emperors, and two male Black-tailed Skimmers. The few birds I saw included at least two Little Egrets, four Great White Egrets and fifteen Cattle Egrets. 23 spp.
Male Lesser Emperor, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2026
I have been looking for Norfolk Hawkers at the lake for the last two years, and have heard that they have been found at Chew Valley Lake recently. I first saw them last year in Somerset (see 11th May 2025 for photo). As yet they still elude me at Blagdon. Today, and recently, Lesser Emperors are the most numerous of the dragonflies with the possible exception of Black-tailed Skimmers.
Sunday 21st June
I have a report from Nick P. with the following sightings: 19 Gadwall, nine Tufted Duck & seven Little Egrets, of note.
Saturday 20th June [Early drizzle & cloud, with sunny spells later.]
I was up and out before 0800 hrs this morning in my running gear, so didn’t get to the lake until after tea. There wasn’t a lot to tell you about I’m sorry to say, although I did find a (barely alive) Purple Hairstreak butterfly behind Top End hide. This is the first one I’ve seen at the lake for a long time. There were at least three each of Great White and Little Egrets, and a few others at roost that I couldn’t see well enough to identify to species. I spotted a drake Shoveler in front of the Lodge feeding over Tiny’s Shallow, which is likely to be uncovered very soon. Long, Holt, and Wood Bays are already pretty well weeded up, with prolific growth over much of Top End too. It’s such a shame to see the lake in this state. I hope it recovers to something of its former glory one day, but I guess it won’t be in my time.
Friday 19th June [Sunshine then clouding over late afternoon. Warm.]
Spotted Flycatcher, Blagdon Lake © Nigel Milbourne 2026
Bird of the day for me today was this Spotted Flycatcher (apologies for the slightly soft focus), the first I’ve seen this year. They’re always a welcome sight at the lake, as the species is in decline in these parts. I hope it sticks around to breed. I spent time chatting to an angler who’d seen a Hobby this morning, and then far too much time trying to get a decent shot of the flycatcher, which resulted in my not recording as much as I should have. I saw a lone male Tufted Duck, two new broods of Mallard (three juvs. in each), and two Lesser Emperor Dragonfies, of note. There were three Great White Egrets, I think, and just one other, under a tree, that I couldn’t identify. 32 spp.
Thursday 18th June [Sunny spells]
Andy D. was at the lake this morning and reported five Great White, 17 Little, and nine Cattle Egrets and a Red Kite. I ventured down in the evening, met Mark H. and had a catch-up, before having a drive to Top End hide and back. I saw singles of Great White and Little Egret but little else of interest, apart from a Barn Owl in the village as I drove home. 19 spp.
Tuesday 16th June [A gentle breeze & mainly cloudy]
I wanted to try and get a picture of the eclipse Mandarin Duck this morning, but I didn’t manage to find it. Neither did I see two Little Terns that were said to be flying towards Blagdon from t’other place. I went back to the lake in the evening and walked from the Lodge to Top End hide and back. There appeared to have been lots of egrets at the lake this morning, but I didn’t try to count them. This evening there were clearly fewer, but I noted three Great White, ten Little and at least eleven Cattle Egrets. A Hobby put in an appearance late on from Burmah Road, and I saw some Pyramidal Orchids in flower. 34 spp. Nick P. reported twelve Little Egrets.
Monday 15th June [Breezy, with watery sunshine.]
Dave P. and I carried out the monthly WeBS this morning between 0940 and 1315 hrs. From a birding point of view it didn’t prove to be too much of a challenge, apart from trying to count egrets and the Canada Goose moult flock. There was an eclipse drake Mandarin Duck by the Spillway that we nearly missed in its drab coat, and two new Mute Swan and three new Mallard broods were welcome additions. We spent some time looking at dragonflies/damselfies and butterflies as well, noting among others two male Lesser Emperors at the west end of Green Lawn, and Ringlet and Large Skipper at Top End. Count details were as follows: Canada Goose 121 (inc. 3 juvs), Mute Swan 43 (inc. 3 broods, 14 juvs.), Mandarin Duck 1, Gadwall 6, Mallard 195 (inc. 4 broods, 23 juvs), Pochard 1, Moorhen 2, Coot 100, Little Grebe 1, Great Crested Grebe 15, Little Ringed Plover 1, Black-headed Gull 1, Great Black-backed Gull 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull c. 10, Cormorant 1, Little Egret 6, Great White Egret 2, Cattle Egret 13, Grey Heron 5, Sparrowhawk 1, Cetti’s Warbler 1, Grey Wagtail 4. Also noted were: Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Emperor, Lesser Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, and Ringlet.
Sunday 14th June
Nick P. reported five Little Egrets.
Saturday 13th June [Breezy with warm sunshine]
It remains quiet at the lake, although I saw two Little, two Great White and three Cattle Egrets. Kestrel and Mistle Thrush were welcome sightings, but best of all were two Grass Snakes that must have been warming themselves on the road late afternoon. You go ages without seeing one and then, just like buses, there’s two (in different spots)! 31 spp.
Friday 12th June
Last night I drove down to St. Austell, where I went for a 6 km walk along the National Cycle Route 3 towards Pentewan and back, before turning in. This morning I was up at 0630 hrs for an early shower, breakfast and drive to Tregony, where I caught a bus to Portloe. I have just Portloe to Lizard Point to complete the South West Coast Path, most of which I walked alone or with friends in 2013/14. I did Mevagissey to Portloe last year, and wanted to try and do 22 km to Place (ferry) / St. Mawes to catch the bus back to Tregony, where I’d parked my car. I left Portloe at 1000 hrs and walked almost continuously, with a minute to read a sign about a cold war bunker at Nare Head, and another couple of minutes to remove my sweat shirt at Porscatho. It took five hours and two minutes at a fairly relentless pace, albeit in very pleasant conditions after the early drizzle stopped. It included 2400 feet of ascent and descent. But this time, and unlike last year, I got to my chosen bus stop with 25 minutes to spare, which made for an early evening arrival back home. Just 53 km to do now – hopefully in the next week or two. Rupert Higgins reported a Cuckoo and four Little Egrets.
Tuesday 9th June [Very breezy, with sunshine in the afternoon.]
The weather has been pretty dismal for the first few days of summer, apart from yesterday afternoon, but I took a walk this afternoon from home to Top End hide and back undeterred. To be honest it wasn’t a day for looking for insects, the wind was way too strong, although I saw two Painted Lady butterflies. There were a few moulting Mallards on the dam wall, and several hundred Swifts and House Martins over the water (I couldn’t spot a Swallow though). I noted three Little Egrets on Rainbow Point, and a Hobby on two occasions, over Wood and Long Bays. 29 spp.
When I got home, I was amazed to see a Red Kite very low over the car park of the Seymour Arms. It was as if it was about to swoop down for something it had spotted, but instead it lifted and drifted off over the High Street and out of sight. I wonder what caught its attention?
Monday 8th June
Chris P. sent me the following news: I ventured down the lake this evening and started walking out at 19:45 hrs. Hobby, Kestrel and one Little Egret. Swan pair with five young that I could see in the deteriorating light. 31 spp. Cheers Chris.
Thursday 4th June [Some heavy rain showers. Windy.]
I spent an hour or two at the lake around lunchtime and saw all three species of egret, with quite a decent flock of Cattle Egrets ranging around the north shore. They seem to be feeding along the water’s edge in the main, and I wonder if they’ve been attracted over the last few days by the constant emergence of damselflies. I saw a Red Kite over Top End, but nothing else of particular note apart from an excellent showing by Swifts over the water.
Tuesday 2nd June [Rain overnight, but mainly dry in Blagdon today.]
I had a tooth out late this morning, so was ordered to sit quietly for a few hours afterwards to let the wound start healing. As a result, I left it until this evening before walking down the hill to the lake and along to Bell’s Bush and back. It was pretty windy, and it looked like the boats might not have been out. I saw a new brood of two Mallard ducklings at Long Bay, and the family of Mute Swans has been reduced to six cygnets, one having been carried off by a Fox (pers. comm. Chris P.). There were hundreds of Swifts over the lake, with a few each of Swallow and House Martin, but no sign of any Hobbies. Neither was there any sign of either Cattle or Little Egret, but I counted four Great Whites at Rugmoor, and twelve Great Crested Grebes at Hellfire Corner. There was also a colour-ringed sub-adult Great Black-backed Gull on the dam wall with a yellow darvic D:LE. I’ve reported it to the BTO and is very likely another, of many, recorded at the lake that were ringed on Denny Island in the Bristol Channel.