A summary for the whole month of July 2022

 Here is a quick summary for the build-up to the heatwave then the gradual return to normal.

July started to heat up from the first week allowing wildlife to become accustomed to the unusual conditions. 

On 1st July clumps of flowering Senecio jacobaea (Common Ragwort) were flowering on the verges, some flowers and stems being eaten at speed by large caterpillars:

Impossible to miss these voracious beings from the path, making short work of the plants, they had finished their work within a day or two and were not seen again, having consumed the whole plants, flowers, leaves and most stems. The brilliant black and red Cinnabar moths were not seen here this summer although they are day-flying moths (Tyria jacobaeae).

On Sunday 3rd a look at the meadow and river bank revealed Male Banded Demoiselle Damselflies on nettles and several Common Blue Damselflies over a pond. Marbled White butterflies , Ringlets, Small Skippers and Meadow Brown butterflies thronged the drying grasses, discovering patches of Birdsfoot Trefoil here and there. On Sunday 6th Meadow Brown butterflies were numerous and Whitethroats were heard singing and seen in the shrubs whilst Blackbirds were seen scuttling in the undergrowth carrying food for nestlings in the deep shade. On 11th a Red Kite was seen being chased by a single Herring Gull and there was a noisy altercation between a Common Buzzard and a Carrion Crow. The crows are fierce defenders of their nests high in the trees.

By the 12th of July it had become very hot along the paths, water was still flowing well in the rivers, Fleabane was flowering in clumps and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies were seen ranging over the banks and nettles. Marbled White butterflies were again numerous together with a few Large Whites, Small Skippers and Meadow Browns. A large singing 'charm' of Goldfinches flew across the same meadow from the riverside trees, separating into groups to forage on meadow seeds then returning into the shade, still singing. The following day the 13th - Goldfinches were still present, singing again. A Grey Wagtail was seen flying low along the river and a song thrush was seen in the dark undergrowth.

A first for July - Gatekeeper butterflies on the Hornbeam hedge over the bridge, restless. They do not usually bask in the sun. All the fruit trees now have fruit in various stages of ripeness.

It had become very hot and very quiet by 17th although male Brimstone butterflies , Large Whites and Meadow Browns were seen.

July 18th and 19th were Red Desert Moon (my description of a highly polluted atmosphere) heatwave days and nights, 'sticky' dust, thunder and drizzle A Red Kite was seen on 21st, then Rain on 22nd. Some birds were obviously moulting with odd feathers missing, all very reluctant to be seen. On 24th some wildlife began to reappear, with two Nuthatch, Common Buzzard and Carrion Crow, Brimstone, Speckled Woods, Gatekeepers, Meadow Brown butterflies,  and many Large Whites and a Southern Hawker Dragonfly.

The 25th July was a notable day for the appearance of swifts flying fast foraging on aerial insects in cloudy conditions, a Common Buzzard, many Goldfinches singing and crowds of juvenile Starlings.

The next day 26th - a Treecreeper was seen together with 7 Long-tailed ts and a Whitethroat.

The 29th was the full survey (see previous post) and by 30th the usual birds (Dunnock on paths, Blackbirds alarm calls, House Sparrows in hedgerows,  and more) were reappearing, although it remained very warm.

August 2022 survey and summary with Heatwave 2 follows in next posts..

Then September 2022.