Endless Summer - but it's only July

Summer started early this year, with more fine weather before July than in a complete summer in past years.

Here is a summary of notable 'events' for the first half of July 2020:

On the first day, the usual birds were about - wrens, several singing blackcaps, goldfinches, Blue and great tits, a juvenile robin, foraging song thrushes, a Herring gull chasing a grey heron and a young buzzard flying low.

The first Small Skipper butterfly of the year here was seen over the flowering brambles and grasses together with more Marbled Whites, flying low to avoid the wind.

 On the second, Brimstone, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown butterflies were seen with

 another first butterfly, a Small Copper.

The day after, several Red Admirals appeared, and one Ringlet. Several swifts were seen under the cloud layer. Light drizzle followed with blue tits eating or collecting  caterpillars off the leaves of a young Oak on the fourth. with more Ringlets, Red Admirals, Meadow Browns, Brimstone, Large and Small Whites, Gatekeepers joined by Holly Blues and a Comma.

Holly Blue butterfly July 2020

This is quite common wherever Hollies and Ivies are growing on the banks and can often be seen flying very high amongst the foliage.

The 6th July was notable for many high-flying swifts, some directly overhead (over the river).

A buzzard was being 'mobbed' by a single carrion crow. With less wind on the 7th, even more swifts were seen under low cloud, catching insects and the first Southern Hawker dragonfly was seen flying straight and fast. Blackcaps and silent chiffchaffs were in the bank side willows, and Green-veined Whites and Peacock butterflies joined the others in a sheltered clearing.

Warblers, some moulting, were busy foraging low amongst the dense brambles and nettles. Great-spotted woodpeckers, song thrushes and nuthatches were heard in several places, with several small groups of quietly singing goldfinches. Swifts again ruled the skies.  On 10th another Southern Hawker was patrolling a Blackberry hedge in the sun in the presence of Red Admiral butterflies. There were still small flocks of juvenile starlings exploring the landscape.An over-flying kestrel was hunting on 12th whilst the presence of a sparrow hawk caused some birds to seek dense shelter. 

Butterflies were the most numerous so far this summer with the grasses occupied with many small grasshoppers.

Gatekeepers were now the most frequently seen butterflies everywhere, even along the Hornbeam hedges bordering the embankments. They are very territorial and chase any other butterfly that flies into  their own 'flyway' or basking patch:

12th July 2020 - Gatekeeper male defending its patch on the  Hornbeam hedge.

It's the first time Gatekeepers have chosen this fairly new hedge although it is very close to some fine bramble banks and embankments with a variety of native grasses and wild flowers.