Local Wildlife Sightings, July 2026

 Early in July, we received the very sad news that a developers' appeal had successfully overturned the council blocking of a 280 home development on fields adjoining my estate. Along with the inevitable major traffic disruption that the building work will entail and the further dilution of local services, this will mean the loss of a lovely wild flower meadow near the house - very bad news indeed, and another kick in the teeth for conservation and green field sites.

Back from holiday, I visited Therfield Heath (east side) on the morning of the 5th. Initially everything was quiet, but as soon as the sun came out clouds of butterflies emerged from the grasses. Foremost amongst them were Chalkhill Blues - I reckon that I must have seen at least 200. I also saw my first Gatekeeper butterflies of the year: these tend to congregate around the bushes on The Heath. A few Dark Green Fritillaries were still flying and I actually managed to get a few photographs of one - quite a challenge, as this fast flying butterfly never seems to stay still for more than a couple of seconds.

Male Chalkhill Blue, Therfield Heath, 5 July

Male Chalkhill Blue Variant (Smaller or Incomplete Spots, c.f. the Butterfly above), Therfield Heath, 5 July

Gatekeeper Butterfly, Therfield Heath, 5 July

Dark Green Fritillary, Therfield Heath, 5 July

Closer to home, a new (for my local patch) micro-moth, Pyrausta purpuralis, was recorded.

Pyrausta Purpuralis, Royston, 5 July

The hot, dry summer continued with another heatwave, starting around the 5th and lasting for at least 10 days with temperatures reaching 34C (so not as hot as in June!). After that the weather cooled somewhat, with an easterly wind bringing in early morning cloud, but not a drop of rain was to be had until the morning of the 26th, when 2.5mm fell - hooray! After that it was back to heatwave conditions, with the temperature reaching 34C on the 29th. July became the second hottest month ever in England and also one of the driest. Plants withered and crops were harvested early. By the middle of the month thousands of Chalkhill Blues had spread all over The Heath and a few males were seen a mile or two away from the nearest colony, although they would have been frustrated at being unable to find any of the far more sedentary females. I spent a lot of time in the evenings photographing roosting 'blues' (second generation Common Blue and Brown Argus butterflies were on the wing from the middle of the month), because they were too active in the hot, daytime temperatures. However, the females emerge from their chrysalises in the morning and immediately mate with whichever passing male is lucky enough to find them. I was therefore lucky to find a mating pair on a rare morning visit to The Heath (just east of the Therfield Road) on the 11th (image below). On a later morning visit to the Old Rifle Range (24th) I counted eight mating pairs in quite a small area.

Mating Chalkhill Blue Butterflies, Therfield Heath, 11 July

Following the emergence of Chalkhill Blues and Gatekeepers, I had only one 'regular' butterfly species left to see on The Heath - Silver-washed Fritillary. This butterfly was seen for the first time in the Fox Covert / Jubilee Wood area six or seven years ago and has since colonised this woodland, albeit in very small numbers. I now know their favourite areas, and saw my first butterfly on the 9th. I returned on the 11th, when I saw at least three, including both a male and a female, and on the 14th when, perhaps getting tired of being pursued by me, I was able to photograph two different males and a female, whilst a fourth butterfly (another male) was seen. Hopefully more females were around, and this colony will (continue to?) grow. Silver-washed Fritillary was the 28th butterfly species to be seen this year on my Local Patch and six days later the 29th, a Clouded Yellow, was seen on The Heath (Old Rifle Range). This was no big surprise, as several were reported elsewhere in Hertfordshire in July. Of the 29, only Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady are not resident, although in good summers the latter goes through a full breeding cycle here, but neither species can survive our winters - yet! There were no further sightings of Silver-washed Fritillaries on subsequent visits to The Heath, although another Clouded Yellow was seen on Church Hill on the 27th.

Female Silver-washed Fritillary, Therfield Heath, 14 July

Male Silver-washed Fritillary, Therfield Heath, 14 July

Silver-washed Fritillaries were also seen on two visits to Scales Park in the first half of the month, whilst three second generation Small Blues were seen when I visited Clothall Common (Baldock) on the 15th. The colony of Chalkhill Blues at Clothall must have numbered well over 100.

Small Blue, Clothall Common, 15 July

Local dragonflies were rather thin on the ground. It was surprising not to see Common Darters by the middle of July: have all the local ponds dried up? I visited Panshanger Park (between Hertford and Welwyn Garden City) on the 17th, hoping to see a reported Southern Migrant Hawker (still a rare dragonfly, although expanding in numbers and area - another beneficiary of climate change). I missed this, although there were plenty of the commoner dragonflies about, with Black-tailed Skimmer being the commonest. I saw lots of Ruddy Darters there, but no Common Darters. As the month wore on, Migrant Hawkers (first seen on the 14th) started to appear locally. This smallish hawker dragonfly tends to become very common here in August.

Black-tailed Skimmer, Panshanger Park, 17 July

Record Shot of a Migrant Hawker, Therfield Heath, 14 July

Hereabouts, bird activity dies back to practically nothing in July, as nesting finishes for most and I take a break from the delights of failed gull identification (there aren't any gulls to identify). However, after a Herts. Bird Club report (Paula Moore) of Spotted Flycatchers in Fox Covert on the 13th I realised that I had been neglecting this species. An investigation on the 14th revealed at least five birds in two areas of the woodland that were separated by a few hundred metres. One adult bird was feeding at the edge of woodland. I managed to photograph it (after putting my arm on to barbed wire and losing a fair bit of blood) and noted it feeding a juvenile at one point. Whether the birds were from one family or from two separate ones, it was good to know that they have successfully bred again in the woods. Other bird sightings of interest were of a family of seven Grey Partridges (two adults and five tiny chicks which were, nevertheless, able to fly for cover when they saw me approaching) on the Old Rifle Range on the 24th and a family of at least five Chiffchaffs with recently fledged young, near Royston Hospital on the 27th.

Adult Spotted Flycatcher, Therfield Heath, 14 July

'Record Shot' of an Adult Grey Partridge (one of a family of seven), Therfield Heath, 24 July

The path that loops round Phillup's Lake from the road between Therfield village and the A10 had become impassable, being blocked by brambles, nettles, thistles and various other stinging and cutting plants I don't know who is responsible for maintaining it, but they are not doing a very good job! I decided to cut a swathe through this jungle on the 14th. It took 25 minutes and I ended up covered in cuts and scratches (I was wearing shorts). My reward was to see at least six Little Grebes on the lake - at least three adults and three tiny young - suggestive of two pairs having bred on the lake. It is so difficult to count the grebes, because as soon as they sense my presence they dive under the water and head for cover at the side of the lake. However, the baby grebes apparently can't dive at an early stage and don't swim very fast, which makes it easier to count them!

I finally saw my first local Common Darter in Fox Covert on the 27th. Its photo is below, together with a few other images taken locally during an intense period of butterfly photography.

Female Common Darter, Therfield Heath, 27 July

Female Common Blue, 'mariscolore' Variant, Therfield Heath, 24 July

Roosting Chalkhill (Upper Butterfly) and Common Blues, Therfield Heath, 20 July

Painted Lady Wing Detail, Royston, 27 July

UK Wildlife Sightings July 2026

 I spent the last few days of June and the first few days of July on holiday with my partner, in the North of England. We visited a couple of Dipper haunts, and I was lucky to see an adult with a recently fledged youngster in Hawes (North Yorkshire) and another adult in Wasdale, Cumbria. I had hoped to have a go at looking for Black Grouse from the road between Keld, in Swaledale, and the Tan Hill Inn, but unfortunately the road was closed on the day of our visit. However, there was a bonus in the form of a couple of Whinchats, birds that I had not expected to see, in Nether Wasdale.

Adult Dipper, Hawes, North Yorkshire, 29 June

Recently-fledged Juvenile Dipper, Hawes, 29 June

'Record Shot' of a Whinchat, Nether Wasdale, Cumbria, 2 July

On the 8th I paid a return visit to the Great Bustard Project on Salisbury Plain. This was my third visit (I go every couple of years). Only a single female Great Bustard was seen from the hide on this occasion and it was only briefly visible, so I didn't get any photos (memo to myself: this is the worst time to visit, because the grass is so high that the Bustards are not easy to see. Next time I should go in early spring or autumn). However, I did purchase a rather nice and very appropriate 'Fat Bustard' T-shirt! On the way back, I called in at Wilstone, visiting the Grand Union Canal and the reservoir, looking for dragonflies. The dominant damselfly along the canal was the (hoped for) White-legged Damselfly. Blue-tailed and Small Red-eyed Damselflies, as well as a handful of Banded Demoiselles, were also seen. Brown Hawker and Emperor dragonflies were patrolling the canal and I also saw a female Lesser Emperor laying eggs here. Several Lesser Emperors (a recent addition to our Odonata, spreading north through the country accompanying Climate Change) were at the reservoir and, judging by their rather tatty state, had been present for some time. Black-tailed Skimmers were also common here.

Male White-legged Damselfly, Grand Union Canal, Wilstone, 8 July

Female Lesser Emperor Laying Eggs, Wilstone Reservoir, 8 July

Male Lesser Emperor, Wilstone Reservoir, 8 July

Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Grand Union Canal, Wilstone, 8 July

Continuing the dragonfly theme, on the 10th I drove up to Dersingham Bog near Snettisham in Norfolk, which holds, as far as I am aware, the closest population of Black Darter dragonflies to my home. Several mature males were seen, as were some male Keeled Skimmers (another acid heathland species). I also looked for Grayling butterflies here. A few large, strong flying butterflies were seen distantly, but I couldn't confirm their identification as being Graylings.

Male Black Darter, Dersingham Bog, Norfolk, 10 July

I continued up to Snettisham, where in previous years I have been lucky to see Turtle Doves. Frustratingly, on this occasion a Turtle Dove was heard shortly after I arrived at the RSPB reserve, but could not be seen. On yet another very hot day I did a circuit of the southern-most lake. Several hundred Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits were roosting there and a dozen or so Mediterranean Gulls were seen, including one with a (begging) youngster. It was too hot for me to carry a telescope as well as my camera, so I was unable to confirm the earlier sighting of three Curlew Sandpipers, which were presumably in amongst the Dunlin.

A few of several hundred Dunlin present at RSPB Snettisham, 10 July

Adult Mediterranean Gull with youngster, RSPB Snettisham, 10 July

I have done very little 'twitching' this year, but a long-staying Long-tailed Shrike (the 3rd for Britain) on the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire border captured my attention and on the 22nd I drove the 119 miles from Royston to see it. The bird showed well at times, albeit rather distantly, and I managed a few 'record shots' of it during my 50 minute stay. Following on from the Turkestan and Brown Shrikes that I saw in 2025, this was my third UK shrike 'first' in less than a year.

Distant Record Shot of the Long-tailed Shrike, Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire Border, 22 July

My journey took me along the M40, so on the way back I stopped off at the Aston Rowant nature reserve to look for Silver-spotted Skipper butterflies. I had, for a change, chosen a good time because several of this rare species were on the wing and I was able to photograph them. Aston Rowant is like Therfield Heath in being unimproved chalk grassland and its remaining butterfly species were very familiar to me. Chalkhill Blues were abundant and I was lucky to photograph a couple of mating Common Blues. I believe that there was an unlicenced introduction of Adonis Blues here, at about the same time that they were introduced to Therfield Heath, but the colony at Aston Rowant appears to have died out.

Silver-spotted Skipper, Aston Rowant NR, Oxfordshire, 22 July

Mating Common Blue Butterflies, Aston Rowant NR, 22 July

During a family meet-up at Newark in Nottinghamshire, my brother and I noticed a small colony of Banded Demoiselle dragonflies on the River Trent. One female rested on a reed in a particularly photogenic position and several photographs were taken of it, of which my 'best' is shown below. Although far from perfect (the lighting conditions were poor) it represents the sort of graphic image that I aspire to create when photographing this and other Dragonfly species.

Female Banded Demoiselle, Newark, 25 July

I finally made it to Thursley Common (Surrey) on the 28th. Normally I visit both in the spring (mainly for birds) and mid-summer (mainly for dragonflies), but didn't make it in the spring this year. With no rain for a month it was little surprise that many of the pools on the heath were drying out or had already dried out. However, I did find dragonflies: Black Darter and Keeled Skimmers (as seen earlier at Dersingham Bog) were present in good numbers and I also had four sightings of the tiny, red, twig-like Small Red Damselfly (this is the only site where I have found this species). A single Emerald Damselfly, my first of the year, was also seen, whilst a female Brown Hawker was laying eggs at the Moat Pond, near the main car park.

Male Small Red Damselfly, Thursley Common, 28 July

Male Emerald Damselfly, Thursley Common, 28 July

Female Brown Hawker Laying Eggs, Thursley Common, 28 July

In the past I have occasionally combined a spring visit to Thursley with a visit to Oaken Wood, near Chiddingford to the south of Thursley, where there is a colony of Wood White butterflies. Having heard that this year's hot weather had encouraged a small second generation of Wood Whites in some places, I decided to take a chance whilst in the area and visit Oaken Wood. I was in luck as, whilst I was trying to photograph a mating pair of Common Blue butterflies, a single female Wood White bounced in to view, as if sent by the gods! It landed in front of me and allowed me to take a few photos. No other Wood Whites were seen during an hour long search.

Female Wood White (Orange Tips to the Antennae), Oaken Wood, Surrey, 28 July

The following day I was on the hunt for more dragonflies, this time at Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire. A Royston Photographic Society trip there had been cancelled due to the predicted hot weather (35C was subsequently reported nearby) but I decided to go anyway. (Male) Ruddy Darters were still the dominant Darter species seen, but I also saw a few Common Darters, as well as Brown Hawker, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer, Emerald and Willow Emerald Damselflies and a variety of smaller damselflies. I concentrated on photographing the darter dragonflies, looking for graphic shapes and clean backgrounds. The following images of (a) male Common Darter and (b) Ruddy Darter on barbed wire are examples of this.

Male Common Darter on Barbed Wire, Paxton Pits, 29 July

Male Ruddy Darter on Barbed Wire, Paxton Pits, 29 July

Local Wildlife Sightings, June 2026

 For as long as I can remember, Britain has been known for its endlessly variable weather and the British people have been known for endlessly talking about it. However, the variability is becoming more and more extreme. Following the record-breaking heatwave in late May, we were plunged into a fortnight of 'unsettled' weather in June, with frequent showers (sometimes thundery) or periods of rain and daytime temperatures in the mid-teens. By the 4th, more rain had fallen in my garden than in April and May combined, and by the 10th more rain had fallen than in the whole of spring (March, April and May). This reflects how dry those months were, because the rainfall for June was only average at this point. Whilst the rain was welcome news for farmers (and my garden), it did restrict my activities and the activity of much of the wildlife that I watch, in the month that provides the most general wildlife interest of the year. After a week of gradually improving weather, the gods decided that we should then have another heatwave, with temperatures rising into the mid-30s and the UK June highest recorded temperature being exceeded on three successive dates (the 24th, 25th and 26th). Just as it is not pleasant to watch wildlife on cool, wet, overcast days it is not much fun to try to watch it in the baking sun, particularly when elderly souls such as myself are being encouraged to stay indoors! Still, I did get out and about, as you will see here.

Invertebrates

Butterflies can be on the wing for weeks or just a few days, depending on weather conditions. The vigorous activity prompted by the late May heatwave probably limited the lives on the wing of many butterflies to just a couple of days. By the 1st I was only able to find a single Adonis Blue on Church Hill. No other 'blues' were seen here, although I did encounter my first Marbled White butterfly, also on the 1st. A few Common Blues, including a 'blue' female, were seen on a local field early in the month. A Large Skipper, seen near the hospital on the 9th, was my first local sighting of this species. Otherwise, only a handful of Meadow Browns, Small Heaths and (rapidly declining now in numbers) Painted Ladies were seen up to the 11th.

Male Common Blue, Royston, 1 June

Azure and Large Red Damselflies, probably emergent from local garden ponds, were seen near the house, but in what has been a slow season for dragonflies, none were seen on my local patch in the first half of June.

Large Red Damselfly, Royston, 1 June

One puzzling sighting was of three apparent shield bugs, in different places, which I photographed but was unable to identify from 'Brock', or by looking online - one image is shown below. I checked back through my image archives from previous years and discovered that I had photographed an individual in 2024: again, I had been unable to identify it. Further investigation suggests that they may possibly be an invasive 'introduced' species, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, which is a crop pest. However, this awaits further investigation.

Unidentified Shield Bug, possibly Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Royston, 1 June

As June progressed, Marbled White numbers grew, until hundreds were flying, at both ends of The Heath. I love photographing these butterflies, with their distinctive black and white markings, and went out on three evenings in mid June to try to get some decent images that could be used in competition. Although many individuals roost in the grass, some end up on grass stems, sitting on top of Ox-eye Daisies etc. Here is one resting on a flower.

Male Marbled White Butterfly, Royston, 14 June

After a short break in Dorset, I returned at the start of the late June heatwave and spent over three hours on the 21st walking around my local area, including the eastern end of The Heath, finding four new species for the Royston area in 2026, including White-letter Hairstreak along the Icknield Way (several individuals) and the first Essex Skippers to be reported in Hertfordshire for 2026. Indeed, all three species of skipper were seen in big numbers. Also seen were some attractive (to my eyes, at least!) Ichneumon Wasps - all fodder for my macro lens.

Essex Skipper ('Dipped in Ink' Antennae), Royston, 23 June

Large Skipper, Royston, 21 June

Small Skipper, Royston, 21 June

Ichneumon Wasp, Royston, 21 June

Birds and Mammals

The wet weather was welcome news for ground feeders, particularly Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, which had found food hard to come by in spring due to the rock hard ground. Their ecstatic songs were noticeably more enthusiastic as the rain fell! Blue Tits often fledge their young at the beginning of June and two families (around 16 birds) were noted as I walked back from Hatchpen Farm on the 4th. On the same day I was delighted to note a Little Grebe with three tiny little chicks swimming on Phillup's Lake. Indeed, it was a family day there because a female Mallard had five young in tow and two pairs of Coot had five young (3+2) between them. The Coot, which are notoriously territorial, appear to have nested at opposite ends of the lake - I haven't seen any aggression between them to date.

Little Grebe Family (one chick out of shot), Phillup's Lake, 4 June

 Bird migration is over by the beginning of June, so local bird watching involves finding species that have escaped me to date in my local area. Having established in late May that my local Tawny Owls had once again bred successfully I returned to the area where they nest on the late evening of the 8th, armed with a camera in the hope of getting some photographs. The two juveniles duly obliged, although even with an ISO of 5,000 I was only able to manage one or two slightly blurred record shots (one below). They were still being fed by at least one adult bird. A welcome bonus was to find a Little Owl nearby, having first seen it being pursued by an angry Song Thrush. This was my first local record of Little Owl for over a year. There has been no evidence of successful nesting in recent years, although it is possible that the nest site is well away from public areas. A very active Badger sett is nearby and a Muntjac Deer was also seen here - what an evening hive of activity!

Distant 'Record Shot' of Little Owl, near Royston, 8 June

'Record Shot' of juvenile Tawny Owl, near Royston, 8 June

The following day I ventured to Hertford, where a summering female Goosander was being regularly reported. I found it on a weir in the centre of town, sharing its space with Mallard Ducks and Moorhens. When somebody started feeding the ducks with bread, it flew over apparently to join in (Tufted Ducks sometimes do this, although they probably just enjoy being part of a tribe and don't necessarily eat the bread). The bird was quite tame, presumably having been habituated to people. I wonder whether it is partially blind (no evidence from my images) or has some underlying physical problem (none seen) that prohibits it from 'normal' behaviour. Anyway, I wish it well! Whilst I was there I visited King's Meads, where a very active male Cuckoo was present and Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers were all singing occasionally.

Female Goosander, Hertford, 9 June

Female Goosander, Hertford, 9 June

 On The Heath (Lankester Hill), several Whitethroats and a single Lesser Whitethroat were singing when I walked across on the morning of the 11th and alarm calls from one particular group of bushes suggested that the young of one pair of Whitethroats may already have fledged.

A report of a Ruddy Shelduck at Amwell on the 23rd encouraged me to visit. Ruddy Shelducks have something in common with Black Swans in that they originate from escapes from wildfowl collections and, despite having been 'at large' for several years, their numbers don't seem to be increasing. Despite this I count them on my year lists and, furthermore, had never seen a Ruddy Shelduck in Hertfordshire before. I was pleased to correct this and had decent views of the bird. It wasn't reported after the 22nd.

Ruddy Shelduck, Amwell NR, 23 June

Flora

June is usually 'Orchid Month' on The Heath, but at the start of the month I could only see a handful of White Helleborines, which had 'gone over'. The rock hard ground did not give me hope for a good orchid season at the start of the month. However, after the heavy rain a single spike of Fragrant Orchid (image) had appeared on Church Hill on the 4th. Then on the 8th I saw a single spike of Lizard Orchid in the same area that had hosted two plants in 2025, which got me to wondering whether Lizard Orchids had always been present, but just missed by me.

Fragrant Orchid, Church Hill, 4 June

Other plants benefiting from the wet weather included Agrimony, Wild Candytuft, Wild Mignonette, Red Clover and Hogweed.