Shard End Lake.

Today was time for another visit to Shard End Lake which also took in a walk along a stretch of the Himalayan Balsam saturated River Cole.

Spot of the day had to be seeing a lone leucistic Magpie, it was so predominately white that I thought it was albino but apparently not it was leucistic with it being all white apart from where the feathers should be white they were actually a very light grey, it kept jumping onto the ground from a tree but any movement it flew straight back into the tree, it was much more coy than your normal Magpie maybe because it's been shunned by other Magpie for being different, just a pity I couldn't get a photo or video.

Also great to see were hundreds of House Martin flying above the lake, as well as plenty over the nearby shopping centre and adjacent houses were they have made their home for many years now even after the old houses were demolished and the new ones erected. 

Birds seen were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Starling, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Feral Pigeon, House Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Grey Heron, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose as well as the following juveniles, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Grey Heron and Moorhen.

Spot of the day Butterfly wise had to be seeing a Small Blue in the wildflower meadow, what a great looking butterfly. Butterflies seen today were Small Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Green-Veined White, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Small Skipper. Also nice to see were hundreds of Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar feasting on the many Ragwort that adorn the fields and riverside.