Too hot, too windy, too dry - this was August 2020

 The whole of the month of August 2020 was about wildlife having to adjust to changing conditions with record temperatures in the first and second weeks - sometimes too hot for butterflies but with good numbers appearing, together with dragonflies as soon as conditions were right.  A sort torrential rain shower cooled the earth on 13th leading to humid conditions but at least juvenile robins were active in the undergrowth.

On 15th there was unbroken cloud all day with fine misty rain and another torrential rain shower the next day. Birds soon became very active, with great-spotted woodpecker, calling nuthatches, colonies of goldfinches quietly singing in the thickets, song thrushes under cover with house sparrows nearby. Blue ts, great ts and blackbirds were foraging - perhaps that's the wrong word as they were surrounded by ripe fruits, mostly on the bramble banks without any need to search. 

Once the rain had cleared the butterflies reappeared with Speckled Woods the most numerous the on the following day, the 17th,  after another heavy shower, several Banded Demoiselle damselflies, mostly chasing males were seen low over the Arun with some immatures warming up. Two Comma butterflies were ranging over the bramble banks close by.Gatekeeper butterflies were still flying. It became fresher after continuous rain on 19th and from 21st very windy with gales all day on 21st. The wind dropped on 22nd and four Southern Hawker dragonflies were seen in four different locations with two very bright young ones - one hanging vertically onto a nettle stem, jus watching. Gatekeepers, Large Whites and five Holly Blue butterflies were active and looking down amongst the long fine grasses, there was constant movement with huge numbers of small grass moths and grasshoppers. Hidden in the grasses were windfall fruits. tempting blackbirds. More wet and windy weather followed. The full survey was done on 30th August. See next post.

                                                                  

              

                                               Young Fleabane provides food and dense shelter

                                                for butterflies in late summer.