It was a hot, sunny morning with a nice cool NE wind, force 2 blowing. The light and vis were excellent. Pit 9 proved, again, to be the best pit with 10+Little Egrets, a Little Ringed Plover and a few Lapwing along with 4 Teal. A female Gadwall with a brood of 8 young on Pit 7 was noteworthy along with up to 12 Common Terns. Total counts for the reserve were 5 Great Crested Grebes, 13 Cormorants, 11 Little Egrets,10 Grey Herons, 11 Mute Swans, female Gadwall with 8 young, 4 Teal, 23 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 10 Lapwing, 12 Common Terns, 5 Reed Warblers and a Chiffchaff. The 1st juv. Black Headed Gull was noted. Elsewhere on site were another 4 Little Egrets and 3 more Common Terns. A female Emperor Dragonfly was around Pit 9 and the first Black Tailed Skimmer and Broad Bodied Chaser were seen along with the usual Damselflies. Butterflies were much in evidence with the first sightings for me of Gatekeeper and Small Skipper plus a Comma on Phase 1. Ringlets and Meadow Browns were common. A few Whites were seen both Small White and Large White. The usual Grey Squirrel was still playing chicken with the lorries at the main entrance gate.