UK Wildlife Sightings August 2026

 Hyde Hall Gardens (RHS) in Essex incorporate a number of ponds, which are good for dragonflies. On a visit with my partner and her brother I saw several species and was able to photograph (for the first time) mating Small Red-eyed Damselflies. Willow Emerald Damselflies seemed to be appearing everywhere in early August, and several were seen here.

Small Red-eyed Damselflies Mating, Hyde Hall RHS, Essex, 2 August

Willow Emerald Damselfly, Hyde Hall RHS, 2 August

My attention in August slowly turned back to birds and, on yet another hot and humid day on the 4th, I drove up to the North Norfolk coast, arriving at RSPB Snettisham just in time to catch the high tide. Although this was not a particularly high tide, the water was covering the mud flats. Many waders roosted briefly on the southernmost lake before flying back on to the mud. It was fascinating to see huge groups of hundreds of each species (Bar-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Knots, Dunlins and Redshanks) occupying separate areas on the mud or on the lake. Somewhere in amongst them was a White-rumped Sandpiper, but I failed to connect with this bird. Several Terns were also roosting on the mud - these included a handful of Little Terns. Hundreds of Sanderlings were back from their Arctic breeding grounds and I saw a flock of perhaps 400, some in summer plumage but most in various stages of moult, on my way back north along the coastal path. Back at the Snettisham Coastal Park I finally caught up with my first Turtle Dove of the year. Since 2023 I have relied on the Snettisham area for my sightings of this now very rare species. Apparently, numbers of Turtle Doves are very slowly increasing following a moratorium on shooting in some European countries, but I think that it will be a long time (if at all) before they become regular again in the Hertfordshire area.

Unlike the waders, I moved on to RSPB Titchwell. The reserve was quiet, but I did see my first Curlew Sandpiper of the year (a moulting adult) on the Freshmarsh. A single Spoonbill was also seen here (images to follow when I have got round to editing them).