As predicted in the previous post, June is nearing its end with some torrential rain today, Tuesday 27th June 2017. The rain started around midday, after almost three weeks of hot, dry weather. The river has been flowing clear all the time but at low levels, attracting more and more birds as the surrounding land dried up. Foraging for insects for nestlings and fledged young amongst the long grasses and wild flowers in the riverine habitat remained good, with early morning dew keeping the ground surface damp. As each day warmed up, butterflies emerged in large numbers, with the first Gatekeeper butterfly seen this morning on wild Honeysuckle (Woodbine) growing along the fence, before the rain.
Large and Small Skipper butterflies were first seen on 19th June -another hot and sunny day, on the wild field and over the river banks, some being chased by Meadow Brown butterflies.
Skipper numbers have steadily increased and their numbers are greater here this year.
A Large Skipper male (Ochlodes venata) butterfly on the river bank (Monday 26th June 2017)
hoping for a female to fly past.
The difference between Large Skipper and Small Skipper is not in the size but in the markings:
Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) Monday 26th June 2017- these love tall grasses and disappear into the dense 'forest' of stalks to rest, out of sight. The wing markings are plainer and less dark than on the Large Skipper.
This morning, still very dry but with rain threatening, birds on the riverside were very active, collecting food and feeding up - they certainly knew it would rain. A fine grey wagtail was flying swiftly along the river course - just above the water and great spotted woodpecker juveniles were heard calling from the trees. Several song thrushes were seen foraging under the hedgerows together with blackbirds and robins. A common whitethroat was calling from a thicket across the river and a blackcap was singing in a Willow. Above, a common buzzard was gliding in circles evading the idle threats of a carrion crow which soon gave up and plunged into a treetop. Blue tits, great tits and house sparrows (mostly juveniles) were all foraging low on the banks or bathing.
The appearance of large numbers of Ringlet butterflies (Aphantopus hyperantus) usually means rain, or at least more humid weather - and sure enough it had been more humid over the past few days, with Ringlets joining Meadow Browns on the river banks - but preferring dappled shade, like the Speckled Woods.
Yesterday, 26th June was a fine sunny day, although cooler - and there were good numbers of Banded Demoiselle Damselflies visible foraging over the river from perches on overhanging leaves, the females
being quite numerous their emerald-green bodies shining in the sun over the dark water…
Compare this female Banded Demoiselle damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) with the female
Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly on a previous post - this one has green wings (also with a white spot, but brighter) and a bright green body and thorax, rather than a bronze-green body and bronze, brownish wings with a dull white spot.
Although still not easy to spot when amongst vegetation, this Banded Demoiselle female certainly shines when catching insects over water.
The Banded Demoiselle Damselfly is found in old flowing streams and rivers rather than ponds,
although they often fly away from their rivers, they will return to breed.
The first Southern Hawker Dragonflies (Aeshna cyanea) were flying out earlier this year, probably because the heat had warmed up the still water (19th June) of one of the nearby ponds:
This Southern Hawker dragonfly was resting - quite well camouflaged
- hanging up amongst the river bank vegetation. It's much larger
and heavier than the damselflies and can easily be seen flying to and fro hunting for flies
on the riverside.
It is clutching some dry vegetation and appears to be clinging on to the dry stem with
just one foot. Its eyes, large pale grey-green, are partially in the shadow of leaves above it.
The dragonflies usually perch or hang with wings outspread, unlike the damselflies which perch with folded, or semi- folded wings.
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