Today, Tuesday 6th September 2016, after early sun, a heavy low bank of cloud settled over the river, with its edge just above blue sky on the horizon, trapping heat and humidity near the ground. No problem for wildlife however - in brighter moments when the cloud thinned, butterflies were active. These were mostly Large and Small Whites and Speckled Woods.
Speckled Wood butterfly perched on Dock seed
A female Brown Hairstreak butterfly was seen flying in a zig-zag way, searching and settling on a ragged Blackthorn branch reaching low over the river, a sheltered, warm location to lay an egg. The Blackthorn was losing some of its yellowing leaves which floated gently down onto the water, as there was no wind.
More than 20 linnets were gathering in an old Field Maple, flying across in groups to join the singing, with the bounty of seeding Dock below whilst several gatherings of quietly signing Goldfinches, probably more than 40 in total, filled the oak canopies and thickets nearby. A blackbird uttered an alarm call whilst high above, calls alerted me to two buzzards circling each other under the clouds. A vocal nuthatch moved across from tree to tree not far from a second one perched in an oak.
A Migrant Hawker dragonfly flew around encircling the area between the trees and numerous bees were again present in the damp wild field on the Fleabane and flowering Watermint whilst House Sparrows sang in the hedgerow under foraging blue tits and great tits. A blackcap was busy in the Blackthorn, gaining weight for the flight back to its winter home. A silent wren flew up from the waters edge and several robins sang short songs. It was good to see quite large numbers of starlings flying together again as there have been few around during the summer.
Just observations in passing by - all seen in a few minutes today.
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