A Summary of Summer in July

This July has been very active on the riverside and there has been much to record as new plants mature and attract more wildlife, with the great benefit of good weather.
Butterflies were very numerous this July, with Gatekeepers easily the most frequently seen species in most locations, especially ranging along riverbank vegetation and amongst the long grasses and wild flowers in the wild field. They were not seen on areas of cut 'amenity grass' until wild flowers grew up amongst the grass. As mentioned and shown on the post for 14th July, Holly Blue butterflies began to appear again early - first seen on 9th July with subsequent sightings on 17th and 18th. Meadow Brown butterflies were present on most days, some looking rather faded. Large, Small and Green-veined Whites were also present on most days, as were solitary Red Admirals looking very fresh.
Ringlets were seen on rare damp days and Comma butterflies were seen on several days as were Small Tortoiseshell butterflies amongst young nettles or basking on warm stones. Skipper sightings became scarcer this month, most being Small Skippers, on warm dry grasses. It was good to sight a few Purple Hairstreak butterflies high in the canopies of old oak trees before the wind strengthened

and clouds covered the sun.

Meadow Brown butterfly basking

 28th July 2017

This summer has so far been good for dragonflies too, with Southern Hawkers frequently seen ranging along the riverbanks and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies being especially numerous, ranging low over the low river (mostly females) and along the river banks and grasses (mostly males), on a hot
day often preferring semi shaded locations, their brilliant metallic colours shining where the sun touched them.
The star of the riverside this July was a Male White-legged Damselfly on 17th which will be featured in an later post, with a photo. (September 30th, summer summary)

Guelder Rose berries beginning to ripen

17th July 2017

Birds (see full record on 28th July) were mostly keeping a low profile this month, moulting and recovering from nesting but with many continuing to nest and feed young. Swifts were seen on most days flying over the river course, also small groups of foraging House Martins. A red kite was seen gliding over the river course on 15th and more frequently several buzzards were seen and heard. With large numbers of juvenile birds on the riverside, sparrowhawks were waiting under cover  and could occasionally be seen dashing through the undergrowth and into hedgerows. Green woodpeckers were heard and sometimes seen on the grasses and great-spotted woodpeckers were kept busy with young in the old oaks over the river. Nuthatches could often be heard calling amongst the branches whilst the only true song came from lone song thrushes sometimes singing all day but mostly during the long evenings. Blackbirds are always present along the riverside but in July remain quiet, most having several broods of young.

Males are most often seen foraging on the damp shady long grass where the ground underneath has remained wet. Silent robins follow and benefit from the loosened earth.  

Some snatches of song from summer migrants - blackcaps could be heard and chiffchaffs remained very vocal - contact-calling. Towards the end of the month large numbers of 'yellow faced' juvenile blue tits and great tits were seen being fed by adults or foraging on insects under leaves on the trees,

most remaining silent. Goldfinches were beginning to group together to sing in dense thickets close to plentiful supplies of seeding grass and dock seed. Jays were foraging, competing with squirrels for early  Hazelnuts and ripening Hawthorn berries - leaving signs of their foraging - a carpet of empty nut shells under the trees:

Hazel nuts will not be left to ripen but will rapidly be taken by jays or squirrels

but with large crops of fruits, berries and nuts this year there will be plenty of choice.

Ripening Hawthorn berries on a young tree. Older trees have

already been raided of large amounts of more mature haws.

The Heatwave Ends

Since mid July, the riverside has gradually returned to normal, refreshed with traditional summer showers alternating with warm sunshine, the baked earth cooling down, producing a diversity of plants and flowers, with a good range of insects associated with them. Growth had been delayed during the very hot dry weather, grasses began to go to seed early and go brown, then suddenly, almost overnight new fresh green growth appeared like a second spring.

Today, 28th July was perhaps not the best day to do a wildlife survey as the sky was overcast and the southerly wind in the trees made it noisy - but the rain only arrived later, after midday. As usual at this time of the year, birds were hiding and most remained quiet - the only calls heard were those from juvenile birds demanding to be fed, or warning calls from adults sensing danger.

Despite the lack of sun, very large numbers of Gatekeeper butterflies were ranging along the riverside bank vegetation and on the wild field areas where there were tall grasses and thistles alternating with numerous patches of Bird's-foot Trefoil, Vetch and now Fleabane just starting to flower.

   Fleabane on the field today, 28th July. The flowers remain open during overcast weather, a magnet for insects, including butterflies, notably the Small Copper.

Listening carefully, numerous small calls from juvenile birds well hidden amongst dense foliage could be heard. Adult blackbirds (9) were seen foraging for grubs and worms on the grass and in muddy areas it was clear that many birds, blackbirds, song thrushes and robins had been working, probing the surface, larger birds making it much easier for smaller birds to find food. Blackbirds were seen with beaks full -carrying food across to the hedges where there were nestlings calling. Older juveniles were calling from the safely of Willow trees where adult males were flying up with 'ground food' to feed them.
Woodpigeons (30) were the most easily seen today, several cooing drowsily. Blue tits (41) and great tits (28) were difficult to see - hiding in the more sheltered thickets. Most seen were juveniles, the yellow plumage on some individuals as bright as a canary!
Normally robins are numerous, advertising their presence and guarding their territory by singing from prominent perches but only two were seen and heard today - with large numbers still present but having time off to rest and moult, gaining strength and bright new plumage after breeding. soon we will be hearing their first 'chinks' of the autumn. Dunnocks (4) were traceable by the thin high calls of their young in a dark shaded tree with Long-tailed tits (3) foraging not far away, also traced by their calls.

Bird's Foot Trefoil and Vetch on the damp meadow

Wrens (10) were more visible, some still nesting and collecting food for young, with fledged youngsters  exploring roots and fallen branches near their old nests. They may roost together in these at night. 

The loudest birds on the riverside today were nuthatches (3) one giving sudden loud alarm calls from an old maple over the river. Two others were heard calling in different locations - also giving alarm calls, warning their young. A great-spotted woodpecker, probably a juvenile called from an old riverbank oak but magpies (5) were quiet for a change. A green woodpecker called from the high drainage basin banks which are good areas for ants.

Summer migrants are still present with chiffchaffs (6) continuing to sing, both adults and juveniles contact-calling and a single blackcap giving alarm calls whilst foraging amongst the brambles over the river. Further along a whitethroat was seen flying out of the brambles - the fruits ripening fast now.

House sparrows (47) were slow to appear this morning with most deciding to stay put in their hedgerows, some calling. Only one chaffinch was heard and no greenfinches - but small groups of goldfinches were seen flying over from the wild field (12).  A jay flew across the river whilst two carrion crows were foraging on the short grass and a third was seen flying over with a discarded sandwich. Three herring gulls were flying high whilst a buzzard sailed in the strong breeze under a cloud, flying into the cloud followed by an angry herring gull.

The stars of the day were the insects, which despite the lack of sun and the presence of a strong wind

were present in good numbers.

The gatekeeper butterflies were very numerous in almost every location, along the riverbank vegetation  - ranging over the wild field, over and amongst the long grasses on both the north and south embankments:

A Gatekeeper butterfly on flowering Water Mint on the damp meadow.

One Gatekeeper was chasing a Small Skipper but most were basking on brambles and grasses, remaining closed until the sun appeared when they opened to catch the warmth, closing again immediately the sun went in, flying on to gain a warmer location.

Meadow Brown butterflies were active too, looking rather faded compared to the bright Gatekeepers.

Ringlets were seen in damper areas, low down amongst the vegetation, whilst Speckled Woods, still numerous, ranged high and low, pausing to bask on bramble leaves. High amongst the canopies of two old trees, an Oak and a Maple, erratically flying small butterflies were seen - Purple Hairstreak butterflies, their action typical of the Hairstreak.

A Red Admiral was seen in a windy location, basking in the shelter of a steep river bank on the Arun on the brambles.

Two Southern Hawker Dragonflies were seen ranging back and forth under the trees and several Banded Demoiselle Damselflies brightened the river banks when the sun emerged.

On the wild field and the embankments, hundreds of small grass moths flew up from the damp grasses, always flying a short distance then landing to perch on blades of grass, rapidly swinging around to the underside where they remained hidden from view, making it very difficult to identify them. Small Grasshoppers and Crickets

were numerous too, especially on the banks of the large pond - and also easily disturbed.  At least one was identified as a Roesel's Bush Cricket (Metrioptera roeselii).

Gatekeepers Guard the Banks

July 14th 2017 - July so far has been very hot but more humid with recent rainfall on 11th and 12th soaking into the ground - gradually replenishing the river supply. Large numbers of butterflies have been ranging along the river banks and through the long meadow grasses. Meadow Browns are still flying but Gatekeepers are more numerous now both in the fields and on the banks and the long-flying Speckled Woods continue to chase in the dappled shade under and through the trees.

Small Tortoiseshell butterflies often prefer dry, stoney places:

This Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen today investigating fresh nettle shoots

springing up from disturbed ground, then choosing a flat stone on which to rest and bask

in the warm sun for  while.

It may be a female searching out suitable nettles on which to lay her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars will feed on the fresh tender nettle leaves.

Brambles are continuing to flower and many sunny patches have small green fruits. Holly Blues are now appearing again:

A small fragile-looking Holly Blue butterfly keeping to the shade

where brambles only get the sun in evening. (9th July)

Gatekeeper butterfly - showing the underwing - not to be confused with the 

Meadow Brown. Gatekeepers are restless and can frequently be seen chasing each other

and other species of butterfly and insects away from their 'territory'.

This alert one is perched on a bramble leaf on the river bank  (10th July).

Red Admiral butterflies have been quite numerous - but they usually fly alone. This one was today seen flying from tree to tree over the grass, frequently perching then moving on. I was standing in a glade and it twice perched on my shoulder but then returned to its favourite perch in the sun. 

Red Admiral today 14th July 2017 on the riverside vegetation

On 10th July, the day before the rain came,  clouds had cleared fast after a cool start. Huge numbers of butterflies were present, most on the south embankment amongst the long grasses and dock. Gatekeepers were the most numerous but Large skippers, Small Skippers and Meadow Browns were all present in good numbers with a few Large White, Small White and Green-veined White butterflies too. Banded Demoiselle damselflies were present too, some over the water, others over the grasses.

Only very seldom seen here, a Silver-washed Fritillary glided down through the trees over the river, looking almost wren-sized and ver bright.

In the same area, many juvenile blue tits and great tits were bathing in the dappled shade, flying up to perch and preen - occasionally attempting to catch any butterfly which flew past.