Kingfisher in command

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae)

It's a good year for butterflies - and birds!

Today, 22nd August, a hot and humid day after about 5mm rain, the river was running faster than of late but still low. 

On Monday 19th August I had seen the magnificent sight of three Clouded Yellow butterflies (Colias croceus) flying fast, showing off their deep yellow/orange upperwings over the wild flowers and grasses on the river bank, so decided to have another look today. They were seen with a Brown Hawker dragonfly and a Small Copper butterfly, with two juvenile nuthatch calling, one each side of the gap left by the fallen oak tree last year.

But today only Large White butterflies could be seen. I glanced down and suddenly became aware of a Kingfisher, perched on the top of a section of old oak branch which had been deliberately left overhanging the river last year by the Environment Agency workers 'for the Kingfishers to perch on'.

Great to see that their efforts to create habitat for wildlife from that site of devastation have been a such a success!
The Kingfisher remained for a while intently surveying the river just below it, then dropped down and flew fast and low downstream. It was a fine sight when perched - seen from above the shining blue streak on its back between the darker wings and white neck patches instantly identified it, then when it flew the brilliant 'kingfisher blue' of its back lit up the river for an instant, catching the light.
Kingfishers are with us all year and this year, judging by the calls heard and occasional split-second sightings, it has been a good year for raising young, unlike last year when the river flooded in June, almost certainly flooding the kingfishers nests.

A Small Heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

A Seven Spot ladybird heading for the nearest infestation of aphids