Our Meet on 22nd August 2021was held on a bright, warm, sunny and humid day more typical of summer than our July meet, but with rainclouds hovering in the wings, ready to displace the sun at any minute. Wildlife is adapting to what is likely to be a short summer and butterflies are no exception. It has been good to see so many Gatekeepers about at last but they have a short flight time and are usually scarce by the end of August. They are an indicator of healthy ecology where hedgerows are allowed to grow old and strong with a good diversity of native species bordering wild meadows. They can often be seen chasing other species of butterflies which invade their territory along a hedge.
Gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus) with another in the background, nectaring with many other small insects.
Butterflies, Dragonflies and other insects together with amphibians and small mammals keep the riverside active whilst birds are mostly still quietly hiding. Robins will soon break the silence....
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