The End of June was an unpredictable time and the Survey for Friday 30th June 2023 had to be paused and the survey finished off on 3rd July due to sudden rain from very dark skies.
Friday 30th June started dry, breezy with shady areas still damp. It was bright with blue sky visible. There were good signs that all fruit trees were bearing fruits however small. The two embankments (north and south) were visibly showing the difference between grass and wild flowers left to grow on one and grass cut on the other. It was very obvious that bees, butterflies and other insects and spiders had chosen uncut areas.
Fortunately brambles and other riverside plants had been left to grow as usual all along the river banks and it was clear that bees were attracted to Bramble flowers where there was a choice of other other flowering plants. Rosa canina plants produced many flowers but these did not last long this year, probably due to rainfall in late June and July.
Rosa canina flowering along the hedge - an example from a previous June, this years flowers being very short-lived.
The numbers of birds and butterflies are totals for the combined parts of the survey, present in 2 different areas, within the usual time constraint. As usual House Sparrows were present in large, busy groups (63) with Wrens (21) singing loudly in their individual territories. Robins were very quiet with only 5 seen and these singing softly. Most would be hiding during their annual moult. Visible Blue ts were also few in number (9) as were Gts (3). 4 Long-tailed Ts were visible in the shady canopy of the river bank, not far from the favoured Blackcap habitat over and along the river, amongst the willows, 7 seen and most heard singing loud varied songs in their own territories. Common Whitethroats were present (3) in their own territories singing further along whilst a single Dunnock lurked under the path verge. High in a conifer 3 Goldcrests moved rapidly from twig to twig before disappearing and reappearing elsewhere.
Woodpigeons (55) were the most numerous, understandably flying towards the SW and open fields. Only one Collared Dove was seen, in some Ivy - their numbers have dropped significantly during recent years - they are smaller and more delicate than the Woodpigeons and may be facing competition from flocks of feral or fancy pigeons. Herring Gulls (9) can be seen all year now. They fly in small groups, in their own territories centred on feeding opportunities. Song thrushes (2) both singing, were present in their favoured habitat along the river together with 9 Blackbirds, closer to the grass and undergrowth of the banks, including a very loud singer. Nearby were 6 Chiffchaff flitting amongst the dense leaves, all still singing or calling. One Nuthatch called for a second from an Oak.
Noisy Corvids were present in good numbers (for this area!) with 17 Carrion Crows and 8 Magpies in their chosen trees where they have good views of the surrounding grounds and any possible interlopers. A group of 20 Starlings was seen flying across and several small groups of Goldfinches, total 32 birds were seen flying over and onto areas where the grasses and wild flowers have been allowed to grow this summer. This area is favoured too by birds of prey with its open aspect and swooping, gliding and pouncing opportunities. Today a single Sparrowhawk was seen dashing into a thicket where Goldfinches had been perching and singing but the growth proved to be too dense for the larger bird.
BUTTERFLIES:
June had been a good month - until the last days when wet weather had taken over. Nevertheless the long daylight hours allowed most butterflies to react with great speed to changes in the conditions. Timing their reactions was an interesting task!
Here is a list on the same survey with approximate numbers:
Meadow Brown (61), Marbled White (21), Small Skipper (17), Large Skipper (5) Large White (11), Small White (6) Ringlet (2), Comma (3)
GATEKEEPER (first of the year) 1
Peacock, (1), Red Admiral (9),
DAMSELFLIES:
Banded Demoiselle Damselfly, M and F, Large Red Damselfly 3 M and F, Common Blue Damselfly F, Azure Damselfly M
Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly M
INSECTS eg
Numerous Hoverflies, Honeybees, Bumble Bees various, Grasshoppers, Crickets, ants
SPIDERS various
