Time to chill for this beautiful female Kingfisher after three broods this year at RSPB Rye Meads. @RSPBRyeMeads @Natures_Voice

What a treat yesterday seeing this beautiful female Kestrel land next to the hide at Lemsford Springs. It was being chased around by a feisty Magpie. #hertsbirds @HMWTBadger

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe still sporting its humbug headwear, Verulamium Park, St Albans. #hertsbirds @VerValleySoc

Snipe life at Lemsford Springs HMWT #hertsbirds @HMWTBadger

Water Rail at Lemsford Springs. Possibly a juvenile or in moult? We usually see Water Rails back late September/October but the Springs must be a more welcoming habitat in this dry spell. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds

A Stoat will mesmerise its prey in order to make it easier to catch but this Stoat wasn’t hungry luckily for the Green Sandpipers who were watching at Lemsford Springs. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds

Cattle Egret at RSPB Rye Meads this afternoon. First seen from Tern Hide then flew to Draper Hide. #hertsbirds @Natures_Voice @RSPBRyeMeads

A wonderful early morning at Lemsford Springs HMWT yesterday. So lovely to watch a Green Woodpecker foraging and Kingfisher. Also saw a Fox, Red Kite perched, Stock Dove, Blackcaps, Kestrel and Linnets. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds

Female Peregrine Falcon with a meal for her youngsters. #hertsbirds @StAlbansCath @HMWTBadger @VerValleySoc

A few from Lemsford Springs yesterday. Lots of fledglings being fed after the downpours. A juvenile Pied Wagtail, male Mandarin losing his mane, juvenile Jackdaw and Stock Dove. #hertsbirds @HMWTBadger

I’ve been watching Little Egrets for many years at Lemsford Springs but have never seen a breeding one there with such buff tail feathers. The lores are a beautiful magenta and the yellow feet have turned orangey-red. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds

The vibrant male Mandarin reflects in the clear waters of Lemsford Springs. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds

Lovely to see the Bearded Reedlings at RSPB Rainham Marshes on Saturday. It was breezy so a challenge to photograph amongst the swaying reeds. I think the last photo may be a juvenile as the beak is not yellow. @RSPBRainham

Lovely to see so many Wood Sandpipers drop into Hertfordshire this week. Taken at King’s Meads this afternoon. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds

One of my favourite sights this time of year is the Red-crested Pochard male in his breeding plumage. @RSPBRyeMeads #hertsbirds

Such beautifully intricate patterns on the male Gadwall’s plumage. Seen at Lemsford Springs HMWT yesterday. @HMWTBadger #hertsbirds