A visit to Summer Leys

It looks like it's a good year for Orchids this year. I think this is a Southern Marsh Orchid, one of many that are growing around the Summer Leys Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire. Lots of birds here today.
From the first hide many Black-headed Gulls were feeding young on the island, Common Terns likewise on the raft. On the far shoreline a couple of Redshank a few Lapwings and 2 Black-tailed Godwits were paddling in the water.
From the hide overlooking the scrape 5 0r 6 Ringed Plovers, a pair of Oystercatchers, a Teal and a Garganey were seen.
The Standing Hide gave views of around 200 Lesser-black backed Gulls most of which were juveniles and a small flock of Gadwall.
Next on to the feeding station where several Tree Sparrows along with a good number of their fledglings fed alongside,Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits and several Brown Rats.

Over the road on Mary's Lake, another Garganey fed just off of the island, where more Common terns were nesting.
Continuing round the reserve, a walk along the Railway line where Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher,Cetti's Sedge and Reed Warblers, Bullfinch and Little Egret were encountered.
An unusual sight back at the car-park was a fly-over flock of 11 Mistle Thrushes that landed in one of the Oak trees.


Later in the day I stopped off at a site near Sherington where this Bee Orchid was growing.