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After a peaceful (if wet) summer at Highnam there has been a little flurry of activity in the last couple of weeks. The dams that I have been eager to get installed in one of the coppice plots have finally been completed, and are holding water back nicely. While the contractors were working in the area...

All of our migrant breeding birds have now returned to Nagshead . Spotted Flycatchers arrived in early May and finally the first Nightjar was heard 'churring' on May 14th. We currently have three male Nightjars on the reserve, hearing their eerie churring song as darkness falls is a real highlight...

It has been a fantastic week on the reserves and looking at the list of sightings you would be forgiven for thinking we were in a remote area of Eastern Europe or Scandinavia rather than Gloucestershire! Hawfinches performing courtship displays, Brambling flocks feeding on beech mast, nest building Crossbills...

A fantastic number of thrushes can currently be seen around Nagshead feeding on the abundance of berries. There is a small rowan at the back of the car park which is being defended by the Mistle Thrush below. The Mistle Thrush has a real battle on its hands, I watched at least five Blackbirds raiding...

Many of our summer visitors have started their return migration to southern Europe and Africa. The last Pied Flycatcher finally left the reserve around the 8th August, a very late date for Nagshead. Some migrants can still be found though, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps may still be heard singing on sunny...

Bird song may be dwindling but there is still a vast array of fantastic wildlife to be seen (and heard!) around the reserves at this time of year. As summer progresses dragonflies and butterflies become more numerous with July heralding the emergence of exciting species such as the Silver-washed Fritillary...