Ham Wall RSPB Reserve - 31 July 2015 (early to late morning)

12 - 15 Hobbies - (probably all 2cy individuals) hawking dragonflies above the area, or perched in trees, throughout.

2 Kestrel - one trying to imitate the insecting Hobbies and the other soaring high and then hover-hunting.

2 Sparrowhawk - one soaring up carrying food in its talons and another rose up and circled around for ten minutes before moving off Southwards.

4-6 Marsh Harrier - frequent sightings throughout, including, adult male carrying food (three occasions), a juvenile bombing a soaring Common Buzzard, an adult female quartering low over the reedbeds, two juveniles soaring high with a Common Buzzard, etc.

20+ Common Buzzard - singles and groups of up to five hawks soaring around, sometimes quite high up.

Also:

50+ Common Swift
4+ Kingfisher
6 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
3 Great White Egret - seen flying low together.
3 Raven
15 Lapwing
8 Black-tailed Godwit
80+ Barn Swallow
40+ House Martin
6+ Whitethroat
4+ Reed Warbler
4 Reed Bunting - apparently all juveniles
2 Cetti's Warbler
1 Blackcap

NPW

4 Green Sandpipers flew into the area in front of VP2 this afternoon but were not visible once they'd landed.

Another observation late morning at Ham Wall - a family party of four black Mink seen in the water from, and close to, the West facing blind just across the path from VP1.

Also saw a single black Mink on the bank by the railway bridge about an hour earlier.