11^th Brown Birch Bolete fungus Leccinum scabrum, and Fly agaric Amanita muscaria (plentiful) : Stockgrove Country Park (Martin Kincaid)
11^th Adder (male): Stockgrove Country Park (Martin Kincaid)
11^th Ravens: 2 calling. Stockgrove Country Park (Martin Kincaid)
11^th Redwings: 51 ringed by Kenny Cramer. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)
11^th Mandarin Duck: a drake. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)
11^th Great White Egret: 2. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)
10th Roe Deer buck: Elfield Park (Martin Kincaid)
10^th Cattle Egret: New Bradwell Quarry. (Alan Horsley)
10^th Ruddy Shelduck (2) and Black Swan (2): Floodplain Forest NR (Alan Horsley)
10^th Little Egret (2): resting in trees. Foxcote Reservoir. (BuBC)
Note that BBOWT’s Foxcote Reservoir and Hide has re-opened.
10^th Great White Egret: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)
10^th Black Swan (2): Floodplain Forest NR (Zoe Mitchell)
10^th Brambling: my first for this year, calling in flight among a low-flying flock of chaffinches. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)
10^th Hawfinch (3): seen in a morning migration watch. 1 flew low to W over linear park, soon followed by a pair which made a loop over one of the ponds, seemingly in a chase, and flying off to NW. All given away by calls. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)
10^th Grey Plover: 2 as before, nr. R Tove just NW of Pindon End, Castlethorpe (BuBC)
9^th Cattle Egret plus 7 Little Egrets, 5 Grey Herons: “Looked like the Camargue on the recently flooded field near the allotments” New Bradwell Quarry (BuBC)
8^th Grey Plover (2) and Spotted Redshank (4): reported in Upper Tove Valley (SP74S) (BuBC)
7^th Pale Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Calliteara pudibunda): photographed in garden in Stony Stratford (Julian Lambley)

7^th Brimstone, Peacock, Red Admiral and Small White – Little Linford Wood (Julian Lambley)
7^th Hawfinch: Flew low to the west over the linear park, given away by flight calls – Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
6^th House Martin: approx 15 – Wolverton Mill (Julian Lambley)
6^th Bittern: Seen from Hide 1 foraging in RH channel – Calvert BBOWT Lake (BuBC)
6^th Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum): seen at Salcey Forest (Julie Lane)

5^th Otter: Saw our first otter this morning in the canal on the aqueduct over the V6 in New Bradwell. It swam past us underwater then got out and headed towards the balancing lake (Blue Bridge) (Gavin Capel)
5^th Otter: 2 seen from hide at Willen Lake North (Phil Crowe)

1^st Lesser Spotted Woodpecker – male: My first for the Tattenhoe area, photographed and watched for c. 3 minutes pecking on deadwood near Howe Park Wood. Continued to other trees obscured by leaves nearby. Tattenhoe. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

1^st  Cattle Egret: On cattle crossing in front of weir by North Bucks bridges, Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

30^th Conical Brittlestem mushroom Parasola conopilus: photographed in Olney on bark chippings (Julie Lane)

30^th Common Crossbill: Calling in flight to the west. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

30^th Golden Plover: My first of the winter, with 15 Lapwing just over Northants border in Yardley Gobion (Chris Coppock / BuBC)

27^th Cattle Egret: non-breeding adult plumage, or possibly juv in 1w plumage with yellow bill. Seen in the lagoons nearest the southeern path just to E of Farm Hide c. 19.00. Within 10 minutes took flight to E (maybe landed in Viaduct Hide lagoons, seen off and followed by a Little Egret.Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

27^th Otter: fishing in front of the hide. Willen Lake North (Susan Weatherhead)

27^th Great White Egret: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

26^th Great White Egret: Floodplain Forest Reserve (BuBC)

24^th Ruff: (1) Willen Lake North (Chris Coppock/ BuBC). Also Common Sandpiper (1), Lapwing (min.48).
24^th Redstart: In the hedges southwest corner – Willen Lake North (BuBC)
24^th Whinchat: (1 m) Hardmead (BuBC)
23^rd Jack Snipe: 1 on spit directly in front of Viaduct Hide, Flood Plain Forest NR (Chris Coppock/BuBC). Also 3 Snipe, 4 probable Ringed Plover and the regular Peregrine pair on the incinerator stack.
22^nd Ivy Bee Colletes hederea: 2, back garden, Oldbrook  (record submitted to BWARS – Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Scheme) (Martin Kincaid)
22^nd Nettle-leaved Bellflower:  car park of Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (Martin Kincaid)
22^nd Small Copper butterflies: 5,  Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (Martin Kincaid)
22^nd Dunlin: Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (Martin Kincaid)

21^st Buzzard: 3 sighted 14.40 circling over Springfield, at bottom of Turnmill Avenue and Grand Union Canal. (Tracey Theobald)
21^st  Hobby:  Campbell Park (Martin Kincaid)
13^th Raglius alboacuminatus – a true bug (Hemiptera) in the Lygaeidae family of Groundbugs. Found with one leg missing. Bradwell Common SP 843 389 (Mike LeRoy)
Its current status is Nationally Notable B. Previously it has been largely confined to Cambridgeshire, Essex and Kent, but it is spreading and has been found this year in three other sites in Buckinghamshire, including Aylesbury, College Lake and at a site in the Chilterns.
(Click on photo to increase size.)

Raglius alboacuminatus (Photo: Mike LeRoy)
20^th Small Copper: rough grassland just to east of Fairfield development (Joe Clinch)
18^th  Slow Worm:  a juvenile at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (Martin Kincaid)
18^th Southern Hawker: in garden in Simpson (Peter Barnes)

Southern Hawker (Photo: Peter Barnes)

18^th Great White Egret: On the river bank. Gayhurst Quarry (BuBC)

18^th Common Sandpiper; Snipe; Hobby; Mole (dead by side of path) Linford Lanes NR (Joe Clinch)

18^th Common Sandpiper: 4; Greenshank. Willen Lake North (Joe Clinch)

17^th: Wood Sandpiper 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Dunlin 2, Ruff 1, Oystercatcher 1, Snipe 1, Ringed Plover 5 min, Lapwing not counted. Plus Cetti’s Warbler, Wigeon.  Afternoon, Willen Lake North (Chris Coppock / BuBC) Chris comments: It’s not an estuary with a rich harvest of inverts expose twice daily; instead most may die or burrow down as mud dries and hardens – rain might help.

16^th Otter: along S beach of island, then in water, fishing. Willen Lake North (Martin Ferns)

16^th Grey Wagtail: 4 by the lake. Tongwell (BuBC)

16^th Jay: 3 flying over the lake. Tongwell (BuBC)

15^th Whinchat: Perched and catching flies around teasel in one of the fields. Tattenhoe Park. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

14^th Ruff: juvenile. Plus Ringed Plover, juvenile Wood Sandpipers and a juvenile Black-Tailed Godwit continue to be reported daiy, 11th-14th. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

13^th Sparrowhawk: Flew from ground to perch in a tree by R.Ouse, Gayhurst Pits. (Martin Ferns)

10^th Whinchat: Showing well in one of the fields, catching flies and returning several times to the same branch of brambles. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

10^th Hawfinch: My earliest Autumn Hawfinch to date, given away by flight calls as it landed in a dense thicket in the linear park. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

10^th Cattle Egret: 1 with 5 Little Egrets very early morning, but seemed to disappear not too long after discovery. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

10^th Cattle Egret 1, Wood Sandpiper 2 juvs, Dunlin 1, Ringed Plover 8,  Green Sandpiper 15, Water Rail 10, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Wigeon 19 – first of Autumn. Willen Lake North (Mike Wallen)

9^th Peregrine: over Willen Lake South (Mike Wallen)

9^th Wood Sandpipers 2, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Dunlin 1, Ringed Plovers 5, Green Sandpipers 12, Water Rail 14, Siskin 61 flew over. Willen Lake North (Mike Wallen)

8^th Boletus: Salcey. Sadly I can’t identify it, but perhaps others can? The section through shows the gill structure nicely. (Julie Lane)

Unidentified Boletus (Photo Julie Lane)

8^th Polar Hawkmoth caterpillar: On fairway at Three Locks Golf Club, Great Brickhill. (Julian Lambley)

Poplar Hawkmoth caterpillar (Photo: Julian Lambley)

8^th Black-tailed Godwit 2, Green Sandpiper >10, Wood Sandpiper 2, Ringed Plover 4 juvs, Lapwing >40, Cetti’s Warbler min 5. Willen Lake North. As this is a stormwater lake it seems likely the level will stay low until winter rains refill it. (Chris Coppock / BuBC)

8^th Ringed Plover: 6. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

8^th Black-tailed Godwit. Adult and juv. Other observers have commented on throughput since the weekend. Multiple birds involved, but these 2 birds apparently remain from yesterday.Willen Lake North (BuBC)

8^th Wood sandpiper: 2 juveniles. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

8^th Kingfisher, seen flashing across pond nearest canal and perching in bush near inlet. Stonepit Field (Martin Ferns)

7^th Black-tailed Godwit 2, Green Sandpiper 7, Wood Sandpiper 1 juv, Ringed Plover 3, Dunlin 3, Redshank 1, Lapwing c. 40, Teal min 22, Little Grebe min 22, Swift 2-3 overhead, with House Martin. Low water exposing extensive mud along western shoreline, Willen Lake North (Chris Coppock / BuBC)

7^th Small Copper: on grass in orchard between St Michael’s Priory and Willen Hospice. (Martin Ferns)

 
Small Copper (Photo: Martin Ferns)

7^th Black-tailed Godwits: 2 on new mud flats on W side of Willen Lake North. (Pointed out to me by a friendly ornithologist) (Martin Ferns)

7^th American Mink: on grass above the weirs, looking for a way down, before jumping and heading towards river, Willen Lake North (Martin Ferns)

6^th Redstart: Moving along edge of lake and alternating between feeding low down and perched in trees/shrubs. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

6^th Tree Pipit: 2 flight calls heard over the fields. Fairly confident I spotted it heading west. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

6^th Black-tailed Godwit: 2 juv flew in and landed Willen Lake North (BuBC)

5^th Osprey: Flying S, fairly low not far from M1 motorway, Little Linford (BuBC)

4^th Muntjac: 1 adult by copse on path between Maze and Willen Pavilion. 11.00 (Frank Donnelly)

4^th Common Crossbill: Calling in flight from W to E over the fields. Struggled to spot it at first, being quite high up but the calls were loud and clear.Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

4^th Raven: 3 – 1 flying north, 2 south over garden. Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

2^nd Great White Egret: Flooded Forestplain NR (BuBC)

2^nd Clouded Yellow butterfly: plus 30-40 hornets (Vespa crabro) buzzing around. Salcey Forest. (Julie Lane)

1^st Whinchat: Perched and foraging around ragwort in one of the fields near the linear park. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

11th Peacock: dark aberration, flew into kitchen. Stony Stratford Mill. (Peter Waterman)

Peacock (Photo: Peter Waterman)

31^st Hobby: 3, 1 calling and flew off very close by and was joined by 2 others. Petsoe Manor Wind Farm nr Emberton. SP94 (Julie Lane)

31^st Little Grebes: on various ponds / lakes appear to have had several broods again. (Alan Nelson / BuBC)

31^st Ravens: 4 seen while surveying odonata. Stowe Estate (Alan Nelson / BuBC)

31^st Probable Hen Harrier: Seen gliding over north Buckingham / Maids Moreton area and then stooped for around 3-4 secs before flying out of sight. (BuBC)

31^st Grasshopper Warbler: 1 adult ringed this morning: Linford Lakes Nature Reserve. (Kenneth Cramer / BuBC)

31st Redstart: 1f. My first female Redstart for this year, photographed perched and foraging for a thicket near western end of Tattenhoe Park. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

30^th Great White Egret: Heading N in early afternoon, quite low down. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

30^th Whinchat: Presumably yesterday’s bird, still in same location, perched atop dock plants. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

29^th House Martins: 40-50 over R.Ouse at Emberton Park. (Julie Lane)

29^th Whinchat: Perched around teasel in one of the fields. Tattenhoe Park. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

29^th Osprey: My first Osprey for the Tattenhoe sites, photographed as it circled over, drifting to the SW. Tattenhoe Park. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

29^th Whinchat: On track at Quarry Hall Farm, Lathbury (BuBC)

27^th Great White Egret: Forest Floodplain NR (BuBC)

27^th Osprey: Just about photographed as it flew E after taking a fish from the lake. Linford Lakes NR (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

27^th Little Gull: Moulting adult. Passed hide once heading W or SW.Willen Lake North (BuBC)

25^th Common Tern: 3 juveniles; Swallows: 15; Swifts: 7; Sand Martins: 27. Furzton Lake (Alan Nelson/ BuBC)

24^th Kingfishers: 2 (breeding again this year); in flight when Sparrowhawk flew over;
Grey Wagtails: fledged 4 young again as did Pied Wagtails; Common Sandpiper. Tongwell Lake (Alan Nelson/ BuBC)

24^th Little Egret and Kingfisher: Newport Pagnell weir (Alan Nelson/ BuBC)

24^th Kingfisher: River Ouzel by Tickford Field. Newport Pagnell (Alan Nelson/ BuBC)

23^rd Whimbrel: heard only after dark (21.00), flying round Willen Lake South (BuBC)

23^rd Common Crossbill: female or juvenile. Given away by flight calls as it flew NW low over the fields, accompanied by probable second. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

23^rd Tree Pipit: 6. First bird seen arriving from north, landing by one of the fields, and at least 5 passing over, including a trio, a pair and a lone bird to the wesy, all given away by flight calls: Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

23^rd Green Sandpiper: 4 Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

22^nd Common Crossbill: Given away by flight calls as it flew over one of the fields, Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

22^nd Whinchat: Preening from bush overlooking one of the fields. Tattenthoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

22^nd Redstart: Gawcott (BuBC)

21^st Osprey: Seen at College Lake over marsh – mobbed and headed off south (BuBC)

19^th Wood, Green and Common Sandpiper: together in front of viaduct Hide. Floodplain Forest NR. (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

19th Peregrine: regular pair on incinerator stack. Floodplain Forest NR. (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

19^th Sparrowhawk: female? feeding on small bird kill (unidentified) in garden below bird table where kill was made. Bradwell Common. (Eyecol Mor)  Video available here: Sparrowhawk feeding on bird kill – video

19^th Black-tailed Godwit: ‘in Godwit Bay’, 100 metres down from the mill, Olney (BuBC)

19^th Great White Egret and Little Egret: Gayhurst Quarry, Newport Pagnell SP856448 (Martin Ferns)

18^th Corizus hyoscyami a Rhopalid bug: West Bletchley (photo: Michelle Moore; identification Mike Le Roy)

18^th Whinchat: 1 male plus 1 female/immature. Hyde Lane Buckingham (BuBC)

17^th Hobby: over High Street, Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

16^th Grass snake: home garden Stony Stratford – a first for me after 39 years in the same house, presumably hunting frogs in the uncut ‘meadow’ area (Joe and Hilary Clinch)

15^th Great White Egret: Dropped in around 8pm. Forest Floodplain NR (BuBC)

15^th Tree Pipit: My first for this site, given away by a couple of flight calls and briefly seen overhead, flying to the east. Kingston, Milton Keynes. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

15^th Black-tailed Godwit: Adult. Forest Floodplain NR (BuBC)

13^th Whinchat: My first Whinchat for this year, perched and preening by one of the fields near the linear park. Tattenhoe Park. (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

13^th Great White Egret: Forest Floodplain NR (BuBC)

12^th Emperor Dragonfly: probably male, darting around edge of lake nearest M1, Gayhurst Quarry (Martin Ferns)

12^th Twin-lobed Deerfly Chrysops relictus: sucking blood (mine!), Gayhurst Quarry lakes (Martin Ferns)

Twin-lobed Deerfly Chrysops relictus (Photo: Martin Ferns)

12^th Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper: all seen at Forest Floodplain NR (BuBC)

11^th Tree pipit: heard making a short burst of calls over the fields – first one this year. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

11^th Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar: seen in garden, Simpson (Peter Barnes)

Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar (Photo: Peter Barnes)

11^th Goosander: Sleeping redhead. Couldn’t tell if it was a female or immature. Forest Floodplain NR (BuBC)

10^th Hornet Hoverfly volucella zonaria: in garden, Bradwell village MK13 9HS (Paz Prieto Martin)

Hornet Hoverfly volucella zonaria (Photo: Paz Prieto Martin)

9^th Black-tailed Godwit: virtually in winter plumage, stood on the spit; less than 10 minutes after first sighting, flew off north (BuBC)

7^th Green Woodpecker: heard in Bradwell Common. (Eyecol Mor)

4^th Common Crossbill: 2. Calls heard over the linear park. Sounded like there may have been a small flock. Quite loud but couldn’t spot them before they drifted north. Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

31^st Lesser Emperor dragonfly Anax parthenope: male, first ever sighting in MK, on pond in Tattenhoe (Harry Appleyard) – see Harry’s article and photos in Members News.

31^st Tree Lichen Beauty crypia algae: Infrequent migrant moth. Caught in actinic trap, Olney SP884515 (Julie Lane)

Tree Lichen Beauty (Photo: Julie Lane)

29^th Sparrowhawk: female (?) chased small feeding birds very close in fron of where I was sitting in garden, paused on nearby tree, then fast exit. Woburn Sands (Viola Read)

29^th Silver-washed Fritillary: first sighting in garden Woburn Sands (Viola Read)

29^th Grey Wagtail: family of at least four near weir on Great Ouse, Millfield, Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)

28^th Common Crossbill: flock of 9 given away by calls as they flew south-east over the estate. The first passing flock I’ve recorded from the Tattenhoe sites (previous records involving singles or pairs). (Harry Appleyard / BuBC)

27^th Oystercatcher 3, Common Sandpiper 1, Little Owl in its usual tree: Floodplain Forest NR (Chris Coppock / BuBC)

27^th Common Sandpiper: 2 Floodplain Forest Reserve (BuBC)

26^th Common Spotted Orchid: Stonebridge, off-track from North Loughton Valley Park (Sue Hetherington)

Common Spotted Orchid (Photo: Sue Hetherington)

26^th Sparrowhawk: flying overhead, Stonebridge, off-track from North Loughton Valley Park (Sue Hetherington)

26^th Himalayan Balsam, and Green Woodpecker: North Loughton Valley Park (Sue Hetherington)

Himalayan Balsam (Photo: Sue Hetherington)

26^th Clouded Yellow butterfly Colias croceus: 1 female on clover in an extensive clover field, Moulsoe SP914 419 (Martin Ferns)

26^th Green Sandpiper: 14 – 11 together on east side of island, 2 flew off high SW, and 1 sat on a raft (BuBC)

26^th Common Sandpiper: Willen Lake North (BuBC)

23^rd Comma Polygonia c-album f hutchinsoni (light orange form): in garden, Willen Village (Frances Higgs)

23^rd 22-spot Ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata: in garden, Willen Village (Frances Higgs)

21^st Jersey Tiger moth: freshly emerged: garden, Willen Village (Frances Higgs)

20^th Dark Bush-cricket: on sunny doorpost, Willen Village (Frances Higgs)

19^th Comet Neowise: Visible throughout July low in northern sky after 11pm. (Julian Lambley)

(Photo: Julian Lambley)

19^th Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea, large patch, and Betony, Betonica officinalis, abundant, in sunny ‘Cross ride’ Little Linford Wood (Mary Sarre)

17^th Raspberry Clearwing moth Pennisetia hylaeiformis: A nationally rare moth; only 2nd or 3rd sighting in Bucks. Olney allotments. (Andy Harding)

16^th Barn Owl feather: found near the viaduct at Floodplain Forest Reserve, exactly a year after a dead barn owl was found in the same area. (Jane Barrow)

Barn Owl feather (Photo: Jane Barrow)

15^th Great White Egret: Adult. Briefly seen lifting twice to the east of Farm Hide as it was being harrassed by a Grey Heron. Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

15^th Comma Polygonia c-album f hutchinsoni : hutchinsoni variety – colour more golden and wings less scalloped, Little Linford Wood (Martin Ferns)

Comma Polygonia c-album f hutchinsoni  (Photo: Martin Ferns)

12^th Roe Deer stag Capreolus capreolus: Little Linford Wood (Julian Lambley)

Roe deer stag (Photo: Julian Lambley)

Mandarin Duck (Photo: Philip Fenton)

Dark Bush-cricket (Photo: Martin Ferns)

10^th Green Sandpiper: 2 Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

9^th Gatekeeper: In garden. Shenley Church End (Peter Hassett)

Gatekeeper (Photo: Peter Hassett)

9^th Lapwing: c.40 on the bund, Linford Lakes NR (Martin Ferns)

9^th Common Tern: 3 Linford Lakes NR (Martin Ferns)

8^th Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa: banks of it in full flower, former quarry workings, Calverton (Joe Clinch)

Spiny Restharrow (Photo: Joe Clinch)

7^th Purple Hairstreak butterfly: on long grass under trees (including oak) at edge of the Wolverton Mill Balancing Lakes (Joe Clinch)

7^th Common Tern: at least 10 adults and 3 chicks Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

7^th Common Sandpiper: Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

6th Greenshank: Very vocal 21.22 Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

6^th Kingfisher: flashing along R. Ouzel between Castle Meadow and St Peter and St Paul’s churchyard, 09.15 (Martin Ferns)

6^th Mandarin Duck: female, Willen Lake North (BuBC)

6^th Green Sandpiper: 9 seen at Willen Lake North (BuBC)

5^th Bumblebee Bombus terrestis?: pair mating 9.40 hrs. Marston Thrift / National Cycle Route 51 SP 97250 41249 (Mike LeRoy)

Bombus terrestis mating: Note how much smaller the male is. (Photo © Graham Benjamin)

5^th Grass Snake: one, about 25cm long, curled up on grass at edge of redway, near paddock, approx 19.00 hrs, Woughton Park (Hayley Green)

5^th Common Sandpiper: 2 Willen Lake North (BuBC)

2^nd Tawny Owl: in nest box Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)

2^nd Sparrowhawk: 2 juveniles Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)

1^st White-letter Hairstreak butterfly: 1 on elm, North Bucks Way (Martin Kincaid)

1^st Silver-washed Fritillary: 4 at North Bucks Way, 1 at Shenley Wood (Martin Kincaid)

1^st Polecat: A cat-sized member of the weasel type family crossed in front of us, by the horse paddocks next to the river Ouse, disappearing into the undergrowth on the river bank. I did not know what it was and later identified it as a polecat due to the cat-like ears with white markings, the bushy tail and the lateral stripes across the back. Bury Field, Newport Pagnell (Michael Cain)

30th Common Broomrape: Stonepit Field (Martin Kincaid)

30^th Glow-worm: 2, Brickhill Road, Heath and Reach (Martin Kincaid)

26^th Roesel’s Bush-cricket: on sunny doorpost. Willen Village (Frances Higgs)

24^th Black-tailed Skimmer: male and female, latter just emerged with exuvia nearby, path between lakes at Gayhurst Quarry, Newport Pagnell. SP85942 44791 (Martin Ferns/Mike LeRoy)

24th Scarlet Tiger Moth: 12 in garden, Newton Blossomville (Michele Pudsey)

Scarlet TIger Moth (Photo: Michele Pudsey)

23^rd Red-belted Clearwing moth Synanthedon myopaeformis : Wolverton Road allotment, Stony Stratford (Andy Harding)

Red-belted Clearwing moth Synanthedon myopaeformis: Stony Stratford (Photos: Andy Harding)

23^rd Speckled Bush-cricket: 2 nymphs. Campbell Park Pavilion (Martin Kincaid)

22^nd White Letter Hairstreak butterfly: 2 at Oxley Mead SSI (Martin Kincaid)

21^st Yellowhammer: 3 singing in hedgerows, field east of Moulsoe Buildings (A509 London Road) SP894416 (Mike LeRoy)

21^st Skylark: 5 singing in a single field. Upper field between Moulsoe Buildings (A509) and Moulsoe. SP899415 (Mike LeRoy)

21^st Black Neck Moth: in garden moth trap in Oldbrook (Martin Kincaid)

21^st Stag Beetles. 4 found on roadside in Totternhoe NR, Dunstable (Matt Andrews/Martin Kincaid)

21^st Peregrine : juvenile, two windows down from breeding platform, County Hall Aylsebury (Sue Hetherington)

19^th Marbled White butterfly Melarnargia galathea: 12 on red clover. Next to Abbey Hill Course, Monks Way (H3) grid road landscape banks. SP81832 39275 (Mike LeRoy)

19^th Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis: Grafton Street (V6) grid-road landscape, east side SP83907 39172 (Mike LeRoy)

19^th Bee Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid: 100 Bee orchids and one Pyramidal orchid on verges of OU campus, Hammerwood Gate, Kents Hill (Steve and Susie Cousins)

19^th Great Dodder: Island on R. Ouzel, Three Locks Golf Club, Gt Brickhill (Julian Lambley)

19^th Grasshopper Warbler: Floodplain Forest NR (Martin Kincaid)

18^th Little Egret: 3, Ashland Lakes (Peter Barnes)

17^th Black-neck moth: Oxley Mead (Andy Harding)

17^th Buzzard: Circling over Springfield (Tracey Theobald)

16^th White-legged Damselfly: Little Linford Wood (Julian Lambley)

White-legged Damselfly (Photo: Julian Lambley)

16^th Forester moths, Chimney Sweeper moths, Scarlet Tiger moth: Oxley Mead (Martin Kincaid)

16^th Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum: Female, adjacent to garden pond, Simpson (Rebecca Hiorns)

16^th Reed Warbler: Singing in reeds by vets on Willen Road, Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

16^th Tree Sparrow: 3 Little Linford Wood SP8314 (BuBC)

15^th June: Black Hairstreak: North Bucks Way (Martin Kincaid)

15^th June: Viper’s Bugloss Echium vulgarae: Foxcovert Road, nr Shenley Wood – very unusual find for MK (Martin Kincaid)

Viper’s Bugloss (Photo: Martin Kincaid)

15^th Yellowhammer: on power line near Mill Farm, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)

14^th Wood White and Black Hairstreak: Wicken Wood (Martin Kincaid)

14^th Black Hairstreak: Little Linford Wood (Julian Lambley)

Black Hairstreak (Photo: Julian Lambley)

14^th Privet Hawk moth and Elephant Hawk moth: Caught in actinic trap in garden in Olney. (Julie Lane)

13^th Marbled White butterfly Melanargia galathea: Middleton, on horse-riding trail SP886389 (Mike LeRoy)

12^th Scarlet Tiger Moth Callimorpha dominula: first sighting, in greenhouse. Woburn Sands (Viola Read)

10^th Goosander: Female with 5 almost fully grown youngsters down from the Mill. Olney (BuBC)

9^th Oystercatcher, Kingfisher and Great White Egret (flying over): Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

8^th Hedgehog: first sighting after droppings seen several nights previously, in garden, Woburn Sands (Viola Read)

8^th Tragopogon mirabilis – hybrid of Goat’s Beard and Salsify (also present): First seen 2 weeks ago, but still flowering (mornings only) Bury Field (Carol and Rob Smith)

7^th Bee orchid Oprhys apifera: embankment opp. old stadium, Wolverton Park (Tony Wood, on behalf of another member)

4^th Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii: Pilch Field (Sue Hetherington)

4^th Adders Tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum: Pilch Field (Sue Hetherington)

3^rd Henbane Hyoscyamus niger: Oakridge Park SP820423 (Mike LeRoy)

2^nd Peregrine: pair with 3 well-grown, well-feathered chicks, losing their white down rapidly. MK Stadium (BuBC)

2^nd Little Egret: 4 Willen Lake North (BuBC)

1^st Ringed Plover: 3 Floodplain Forest Reserve (BuBC)

1^st Common Tern: c.30 (probably adults), far more than usual at this time of year, disturbed, wheeling and screaming over the island. Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

1^st Bullfinch: 1 m Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

31^st Green Carpet Moth: a slightly faded specimen, deceased, at home in Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)

28^th, 29^th, 30^th Carrion Crow: Non-flying immature nestling prematurely out of ‘lockdown’ on Redway attracting much public attention, noisy concern of parents, and repeated attempts by caring people to move it out of harm’s way. Failed to remain on nest for usual 28-35 days before fledging.Bradwell Common (Mike LeRoy)

28th Polecat: 2 kitts, in middle of road between Lavendon and Harrold, 7.15 a.m. (Tess Adams, identified by Richard at Harrold Country Park)

Polecat kitts. Photo: Tess Adams)

28^th Tree Sparrow: 3 (1 adult, 2 young) Little Linford Wood (BuBC)

28^th Common milkwort Polygala vulgaris, Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris and Pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus: Pilch Field (Jenny Mercer)

27^th Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense: Pair mating, nr Goosey Bridge on R.Ouse, Olney (Julie Lane)

27^th Lime Hawk Moth: caught in trap. Olney SP884515 (Julie Lane)

27^th Cuckoo: pair (m and f) both singing but not seen nr Goosey Bridge on R.Ouse, Olney (Julie lane)

27^th Dryads saddle fungus, Polyporus squamosus: Newton Blossomville (Julie Lane) First reported 4th May. This is a new picture showing its development:

26^th Chinese Water Deer: 3, the first of which stirred from ground-cover 4m away. Magna Park Lake. SP916388 (Mike LeRoy)

26^th Willow warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Song Thrush: Broughton Grounds, towards Whitsundoles, Beds. SP919402 (Mike LeRoy)

26^th Buzzards (3), Red Kite (2), Sparrowhawk (1): between Broughton Grounds and Lower Wood. SP918411. (Mike LeRoy)

25^th Bee Orchid Oprhys apifera; Kent Hills Conference Centre (Steve and Susan Cousins)

25^th Cuckoo: heard far off in Linford Lakes NR (Sue Hetherington)

25^th Cetti’s Warbler: heard, Linford Lakes NR (Sue Hetherington)

25^th Garden Warbler: Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

25^th Meadow flowers in bloom: including Yellow Rattle; Ragged Robin; Meadow Cranesbill; (Brown?) Knapweed: Ouse Valley Park next to A5(D), Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)

25^th Muslin Moth: 1 f struggling on path near Thomas Drive, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

24^th  Red Fox: 5 happily going about their business in the meadows;

Raven: 1 very noisy Raven, close by; Grey Wagtails: pair; Cuckoo heard. Western Underwood. (Julie Lane)

24^th Tawny Owl:   2 noisy tawny owlets and a parent, heard before seen. Western Underwood (Julie Lane)

24^th Song Thrush: 1 Olney (Julie Lane)

24^th Kidney Vetch, Meadow Vetchling, Sainfoin, Red Campion: in chalky scrapes near canal, Oakridge Park (Martin Ferns)

24^th Little Egret: on edge of eastern pond, Stonepit Field (Martin Ferns)

23^rd Little Egret: 1 flying over heading west c. 8pm Poets Estate, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

22^nd Tree Sparrow: 5 in hedgerows and on fences near the old barn, SW of Little Linford Wood (BuBC)

21^st Lapwing: 4 circling and calling. Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

21^st Shoveller: pair. Stony Stratford NR (Joe CLinch)

20^th Tawny Owl: Calling at night. Calverton End (Joe Clinch)

20^th Great White Egret: 1 Gayhurst (BuBC)

19^th Whitethroat: 2 Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

19^th Sedge Warbler: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

19^th Cetti’s Warbler: heard, Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

17^th Nightingales: 2 m singing in a wood nr Olney. So, at least 3 in Olney area (Julie Lane)

Recording below of nightingale, with long-tailed tits and raven in distance. Olney (Julie Lane)

16^th Fox cub: in Paul’s conservatory, entered presumably having passed behind Paul at his computer, through kitchen and lounge… 1 of 2 cubs which visit the garden. Bancroft. (Paul Lund)

16^th Cuckoo: 2 m calling from separate directions. Weston Underwood/Olney (Julie Lane)

16^th Osprey: Seen and photographed at Millenium Country Park, Marston Vale (Marston Vale News)

16^th Hobby: Willen Lake North (BuBC)

15^th Water Crowfoot and Celery-leaved buttercup: in lower pond. Little Linford Wood (Phil and Mary Sarre)

15^th Mouse-Ear Hawkweed: Calverton Road bank. Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)