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. 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.

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 are 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!

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.

Adult Spotted Flycatcher, Therfield Heath, 14 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 earlier 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!

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

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.

UK Wildlife Sightings June 2026

 Due to a combination of the wretched weather and other interests, I didn't make any long wildlife-watching trips in June until the 10th, when I decided to visit RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in the Norfolk Broads, despite a poor weather forecast. It was a risk that wasn't really worth taking: with regular showers, few sunny intervals and temperatures ranging from 12-15C, there was little chance of seeing Swallowtail butterflies, and the few dragonflies that were on the wing were not enough to tempt the resident Red-footed Falcon to put in an appearance during my visit either (it had been seen earlier in the day), although I did have a couple of sightings of Hobby and saw my first Green-eyed ("Norfolk") Hawkers of the year. However, I did come across a Mole above ground, which I watched for ten minutes as it moved around, starting to dig holes and then leaving them - was it looking for food? I didn't see it eating anything. I can't remember the last time I saw a Mole and I haven't been able to photograph one before. Despite very low light, I managed to get one or two 'record shots' of this rarely seen mammal: one is below.

A Mole Digging a Hole! RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 10 June

Male Reed Bunting, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 10 June

Female Scarce Chaser Dragonfly, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, 10 June

An RSPB Local Group trip to Carlton Marshes (Suffolk Wildlife Trust) on the 14th was a rare visit to an East Anglian reserve that I hadn't been to before. The reserve held all the reed bed 'specialists', and I had decent views of Marsh Harriers, Hobbies and Bitterns in flight. All three egrets were seen. I spent quite a bit of time photographing insects, which included an impressive number of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies - the highest concentration that I've seen for years.

Cattle Egret 'doing what Cattle Egrets do', Carlton Marshes, 14 June

Green-eyed (Norfolk) Hawker, Carlton Marshes SWT, 14 June

Drinker Moth Caterpillar (a big one!), Carlton Marshes, 14 June

Small Tortoiseshell, Carlton Marshes, 14 June

A family meet up in Dorset the following week gave me the opportunity to spend a couple of hours at RSPB Arne, a splendid heathland reserve on the Studland peninsula. I was lucky to see a male Tree Pipit, singing at the top of a small conifer tree (my first of the year) and some emergent Silver Studded Blue butterflies. A Keeled Skimmer dragonfly (a rare species in the east of England) was also seen. I was told that, earlier in the day, somebody had seen a White-tailed Eagle being mobbed by an Osprey! This unlikely event is now perfectly possible as both species have started to nest in the area.

Record Shot of a Distant Tree Pipit, RSPB Arne, 18 June

Male Silver Studded Blue Butterfly, RSPB Arne, 18 June

Male Silver Studded Blue Butterfly, RSPB Arne, 18 June

On the following day, on a visit to Lyme Regis, I came across a Rock Pipit that clearly had a problem with its left leg, which was kept constantly retracted. Despite this, it appeared to be successfully hunting for insects (image).

Rock Pipit, Lyme Regis, 19 June

With the arrival of another heatwave, more extreme than the one in May (see my 'Local Sightings' post) I stayed pretty close to home during the following week, but I did make one excursion (on the 23rd), travelling to Sea Palling, from near where the (apparently) resident Black-winged Kite was being reported every day. I first saw Black-winged Kite, probably this bird, at Hickling Broad NWT last year. It is the only one of its species in the country, and definitely a 'mega'. I had no difficulty seeing the kite, but it was quite distant and enveloped in a heat haze (at 9.30am!), so my photos were of little grey, white and black blobs - definitely not worth incorporating here. The bird was observed flying, hovering and sitting in trees and on telegraph poles, so was far more active than when I saw it at Hickling, where it just sat.

Hickling is only about six miles away, as the Kite flies, so I decided to visit in the hope of catching up with the Swallowtail butterflies that I had missed at Strumpshaw Fen. This time I was lucky, seeing at least three on the wing despite it being quite late in the season. One butterfly kept coming back to rest on the same tree, giving me ample time to take its photograph. Nearby, a few sections of the pathways were closed in order to safeguard breeding Fen Mason Wasps (which actually seemed to be widespread on the reserve). Of course, I had to take a photograph (below) of this endangered species, which can only be found on the Norfolk (and Suffolk?) Broads. Breeding Lapwings were present with their chicks on Brendan's Marsh. There had been reports on previous days of a variety of uncommon waders here. On my first visit to the viewpoint I only saw Lapwings. However, just before I left I had another look (Brendan's Marsh is close to the Visitor Centre)and photographed a distant wader. Close examination of the images confirmed that this was a moulting (?) Spotted Redshank, key features being the longish bill with a slight 'droop' at the end and the strong white supercilium. The bird was a welcome bonus, being my first sighting of this species in 2026 and 204th overall.

Swallowtail Butterfly, Hickling Broad NWT, 23 June

Fen Mason Wasp, Hickling Broad NWT, 23 June

'Record Shot' of Spotted Redshank, Hickling Broad NWT, 23 June