Survey for June - a Startling Summer begins

 The survey for June 2022 was done on 28th, a variably bright sky with sun and cloud and a southerly wind. The air was fresh after a heavy shower the previous day which caused the river level to increase slightly. Meadowsweet on the bank was flowering and Hazel leaves gave the landscape a bright green shade, even under cloud.What a contrast to last year, seeing so many young fruits on the trees. A Blackthorn held surprisingly ripe fruits, some had already been spotted by birds which had stripped off the fruits and left the stones on the branches, perhaps whilst the fruit was not ripe enough to pull away whole. There were bird droppings below the branches.

The growth was surreal, with nettles springing up and brambles twice as tall as is usual. Many bees were frequenting the brambles, tall grasses and strong patches of Bird's foot Trefoil.

Butterflies were the main feature of this survey, several new to some locations which have matured this spring where wild grasses and wild flowers have been allowed to grow un mown.

One of these areas held many Meadow Brown butterflies with some Ringlets in low areas, then suddenly within less than a minute of the sun appearing, a Marbled White butterfly flew across, then many more were seen over the grasses with fast and restless flight. only one perched for a second and then was off, it perched just long enough for a photo: 28th June 2022:

Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathia)  not seen before in this location

Amongst the grasses were many less obvious butterflies, the Meadow Browns:

The Meadow Brown (Maniola justina) is quite numerous and is usually seen first in May.

Another butterfly present was the Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)  in good numbers but often overlooked but usually seen in well managed grassland which hasn't been cut as they overwinter in tall grass sheaths. Mowing will destroy the small caterpillars.:

A sign of good land management here!

These areas need protecting. Mowing is incredibly destructive.

In addition to these butterflies there were several Large Whites, , 4 Commas, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Woods, 3 Brimstones, 2 Red Admirals and a rather faded Painted Lady (it may well have flown north across the channel as these are migratory butterflies).

Now for the Birds:

Whilst it was interesting to watch butterfly activity on such a variable day with alternating sun and cloud, when butterflies react within a split second, dropping down under cover when the sun goes in in most cases and flying up resuming activities as soon as the sun shines again, birds also react, often in advance of rain or sun. Birds will often perch on outermost branches waiting for the sun or drop down into dense foliage before rain. Today the first birds recorded were Chiffchaffs (8) some singing in the Willows. Robins were mostly keeping out of sight but 4 out of 8 were singing. Just two Blue ts and two Great ts were seen, a very small number but obviously still nesting under dense cover. Blackbirds were still rearing young but 12 were seen, several giving alarm calls when corvids came too close. House sparrows were also nesting, most in dense hedgerows or on buildings (45) but only two Starlings were seen, close to their roost. There can be larger numbers but usually when there is an overcast sky full of midges and flies! There were 13 Herring Gulls in the air and 10 Carrion Crows in various trees whilst a total of 34 wood pigeons were mostly  calling and chasing, nesting will take place later. A single harsh call revealed a Jay in dense cover, having survived a winter with our acorns, like the squirrels and 9 noisy young Magpies nearby

There was only one Goldfinch seen, with most probably nesting out of sight and a single Green Woodpecker called softly - they have been nesting, not advertising their presence in the trees.The other summer migrant warblers present were loudly singing Blackcaps in the tree cover over the river (7) and  4 Whitethroats. Unusually there were 7 Song thrushes in various places, most singing - a good sign.

There were good number of wrens (38) most singing and a Sparrowhawk which dashed across between trees, over my head. House Sparrows had fallen silent but resumed their song in the hedgerow as soon as the hawk was out of sight.

The huge growth of vegetation has give Damselflies extra cover on which to perch and only a single Banded demoiselle Damselfly and some distant Common Blue Damselflies on the margin of a new rather bare pond were seen.