Thursday 23rd August and the sun appeared in gaps between the numerous cumulus clouds. The day was warm and with little wind. Banded Demoiselle damselflies were still active over the lily pads with a group of 7 males chasing a single female ten meters along the river and back again several times. They soon lost track of the female which perched on the river bank nettles and continued chasing each other around the lily pads. More Banded Demoiselles were chasing in groups over aquatic reeds on the Arun and several Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies were also chasing over a separate patch on the river. Few have been seen for a while now, after an early appearance in May so it's good to see they are still present.
Butterflies were out with Speckled Woods all along the river where ever there was dappled shade, usually several together spiraling in close circles from down on the banks to high in the trees and back again. They also need to bask and usually choose bramble leaves to warm up on.
The star today was a fresh Small Tortoiseshell butterfly I encountered basking on the footbridge:
This Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was soaking up the warmth on
a non-slip strip on the wooden boards of the footbridge,
close to the nettles on the river banks.
Being late summer, this fresh butterfly will soon be seeking nectar, feeding up before choosing a suitable place to hibernate for the winter. Its name Aglais urticae indicates its essential foodplant -
common nettle (Urtica dioica) when in caterpillar form. Further along the river I found Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on the nettles:
Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars, probably final stage (they change
skins 4 times as they grow).
They create their own protective webbing to deter predators as they are very conspicuous, moving from one nettle plant to another, munching their way through the leaves and leaving bare stalks. They have to go through the chrysalis stage now, before emerging as butterflies.
Other butterflies seen today along the river banks were red Admiral, Comma Large White and Gatekeeper
In a drier area this Dark Bush Cricket male
Pholidoptera griseoaptera was hiding.
Being flightless, almost wingless it travels fast, springing a few feet over the vegetation using its very long legs. It has fine long antennae (unlike the Grasshoppers) and feeds on aphids, caterpillars, nettles
and brambles. It usually stays out of sight as it makes a good meal for ground-feeding birds.
Birds seen today were Blue Tit (31), Great Tit (15), Woodpigeon (24), Collared Dove (2), Green Woodpecker (2), Chiffchaff (9), Willow Warbler (3), calling Nuthatch (5), singing Wren (2), Sparrowhawk, Goldfinch (5), Robin (2) Herring Gull (7) and Buzzard heard calling. It had been siesta time for all the small birds which started to become active again only when on my way back.
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