A Butterfly June

Friday 22nd June 2018 began, as usual, in bright sunshine, with a cool northerly breeze, becoming hot later.  The ground remained green and damp in shady places, with Bramble still very much in flower along the banks, attracting numerous bees and other insects whilst the long grasses were thronged with butterflies - mostly Meadow Browns in the hot sunny areas and good numbers of Ringlets in dappled shade. Speckled Woods also frequent dappled shade but usually range along woodland and tall thickets. Several Green-veined Whites were present too with unusually high number of Large Skippers in their favoured habitat, long dry grasses. If perched, they look just like orange-brown dead leaves which suddenly spring to life. 

Banded and Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies are still present along the river, chasing under the steep banks and perching on nettle and Bramble leaves, in wait for insect prey. Along the banks several bright Comma butterflies were ranging, fast flying and inquisitive. Loose clusters of Stitchwort were growing well  amongst the tall grasses and flowering Common Mouse-ear was seen on the shadier banks:

Common Mouse-ear on green banks

With such a slight breeze it was very quiet indeed on the riverside - apart from birdsong. All kinds of 'rustling' occurring in the trees and tickets was significant today as there was no wind.

A large clump of Rosa canina was flowering abundantly, facing the sun on the river bank, covered in bees and flies:

Dog Rose - Rosa canina in the sun, overpowering the Brambles

This was Sparrow Weather - house sparrows (65) could be heard in colonies all along the river course - they love the hot weather but also seek out water where they can drink and bathe. The river provides plenty of safe places here. No silent summer yet - singing blackbirds (25) could be heard, near and far,  their voices echoing, whilst others were 'sunning' on verges, wings and tails spread out in

the sun. Fledged juveniles were foraging nearby and other adults were nesting with second broods.

Song thrushes continue to sing loudly (5) and were seen under green damp hedges and undergrowth, foraging.

Also very audible were wrens (26) most singing again whilst others watched over newly fledged young. There was a fine view of four fledged juveniles keeping close together, learning to forage on branches over the river, lining up together on a small twig just above an adult  grey heron foraging on 

the river, which flew off, it's fishing disturbed by the juvenile wrens. Much further away downstream a juvenile grey heron was fishing under the steep banks (total 2).

There were now many blue tit  (58) juveniles forming groups in the thickets, easily visible with their yellow plumage mixing in some places with juvenile house sparrows. Great tits (18) seemed to be keeping in family groups,  'yellow' juveniles and adults foraging together. Noticeably absent at first were robins whose song is often the first to be heard - but not today. Only 9 were seen, with 5 singing.

Their 'absence' doesn't mean they have flown away but are probably in hiding, perhaps raising more broods whilst some may already be moulting.Three dunnocks were seen and heard in the undergrowth. Like the robins, few goldfinches were seen and heard (6) and only one greenfinch.

21 wood pigeons were seen, some calling and 5 magpies just sitting in trees, chatting. A small total of 4 carrion crows, sat inactive in the heat of the day - and a single herring gull was sailing high.

With the longest day only yesterday and continuing fine weather most birds do not have to frantically seek food all their waking hours and can rest, hidden from view for a while.

Nuthatches (11) however have now become noisy again, with fledged young calling loudly, still keeping to their nesting territories.  A distant green woodpecker nest still held young, making the loudest calls! whilst one adult was seen flying across. It's been a very good summer so far for ants - food of the green woodpecker having a wide choice of ants nests to forage from. A great spotted woodpecker flew across to its tree but no young have been seen yet.

Lastly, our summer migrants are still active here, with four whitethroats still nesting, chiffchaffs still very vocal (6), a single singing garden warbler and ten blackcaps, most of these singing too.

Finally a mallard family enjoying the calm slow waters of the river, perfect for rearing young - the adults only were seen today but later were seen with at least 8 duckings in tow.

Just above, a common buzzard was seen being chased by a carrion crow.