The records for July 2023 have been waiting to be entered for quite a while but here they are!
A typical summer day, sunny, a slight breeze, no rain, warm, dew on the grass with the paths drying out. High-growing nettles, Meadowsweet finishing and crowds of midges on the river bank under the oaks. Numerous butterflies were ranging along the brambles, most of them fresh Gatekeepers with more over the long grass (uncut 'islands' ) with grasshoppers and numerous other insects including grass moths. It was warm in the sun, spreading as morning shadows dispersed.
Where the grass had been cut but mown grass left, it was clear that there were very few insects such as butterflies, bees and grasshoppers. Spider webs of course were a good indicator of a 'no mow' area, where spiders frequently used dry flower heads to anchor their webs. Hazelnuts littered paths under Hazel trees where creatures had reached up to plunder the still-green nuts or carry them away for winter storage.
Clumps of Fleabane were now flowering in the sun. They are not early flowers but are quickly found by bees, butterflies and hoverflies.
Gatekeeper butterflies are extremely active - if you see one
there will probably be many more ranging along nearby hedges
and grasses. This one is rather worn but shows the identifying
two white dots on black on each wing. They will seldom be seen basking.
As usual, House Sparrows were the most numerous birds (62) most
singing in hedges or drying out on the most sunny branches after bathing. More were busy but of sight in bramble patches where bramble seeds will provide food for them well into the winter months.
Blackbirds seek out the earliest patches of sunlight on the river banks where they could be seen 'sunning' with wings outstretched (8). A single Songthrush was seen crossing a path. This is always a very quiet time for the best singers, but they are still present, keeping a low profile, whilst protecting juveniles and whilst moulting. There were 5 Dunnock on the path and undergrowth on the verge, dashing out when an insect is sighted. As for most birds, Wrens, usually very vocal were quiet and keeping out of sight only 3 were seen and one of these heard. There were even fewer Robins than usual (3) most moulting and keeping well out of sight. Goldfinches (8) were seen in a small group in trees near a field with dried out Dock where they will dash out from the trees to collect the seeds. Blue ts (17) and Great ts (4) were busy in several locations collecting insects and spiders from leafy trees on the river banks. Some of the Great ts were calling. Blackcaps, amongst the very best singers, were still today with just one heard calling. They are keeping hidden to protect their young. There were other warblers, including Whitethroat hiding amongst the Willows for the same reason but at least one gave a short song to identify itself.
The larger birds were more easily seen with a Magpie calling, 2 Nuthatch one adult and one juvenile seen in a shady oak, 3 Carrion Crows breaking the rules of silence, Woodpigeons lazily cooing 23 and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying from a hole in a tree trunk. A Grey Wagtail flew from the river bank and a Green Woodpecker called loudly from a small field, laughing, knowing that it was unseen.
The insects seen were:
a good number of 7 spot Ladybirds
Butterflies:
Small White, Peacock (3), Holly Blue (14), Red Admiral (22 at least), Large Skipper, Small Skipper, (several), Meadow Brown (13), Comma (16), Large White (15), Gatekeeper (98 total), Speckled Wood (7)
Dragonflies;
Souther Hawker (3), Migrant Hawker, Large Red Damselfly pairs several.
finally - submerged frogs in muddy pond.
Others not seen on this survey but seen during the month of July:
Common Buzzards
Swifts in air
Collared Doves
Banded Demoiselle Damselflies m and f over river (many)
Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies, m and f over river, Common Blue Damselflies, pond
