Royston Wildlife Blog: Local Wildlife Sightings, August 2022

Drought conditions continued well into August, after a July that brought a measly six millimetres of rain to my Royston garden. Grasses turned pale brown as temperatures soared to 34C by the middle of the month. Both birds and insects were hard to find, the latter having to search hard for nectar in the few remaining flowers and the former keeping in deep cover and (possibly) moulting. Some places in the south east and in Lincolnshire had terrific thunderstorms in the third week, but Royston missed them all and stayed dry until (at last!) we had 21mm (0.8 inches) of rain on the morning of the 25th, allowing me to catch up on a few of many indoor jobs - including updating this blog. My search for 200 invertebrate species on my 'local patch' became progressively harder in the drought, although I was able to add common darter, migrant hawker, brown hawker and (male and female) banded demoiselle dragonflies to the list. Common darters were also seen and photographed when I visited RSPB Sandy on the 3rd. As usual, small red-eyed damselflies were seen in the large, old pond in the gardens at Sandy.

Female Common Darter, RSPB Sandy, 3 August

Female Common Darter, Royston, 8 August

Small Red-eyed Damselflies, RSPB Sandy, 3 August

I saw the first of the second generation Adonis blues (a male) on Church Hill on the 5th. At least two males were also on the wing when I visited the Old Rifle Range on the 8th. Common blue and brown argus butterflies were seen in decent numbers, both on The Heath and at known sites to the south of Royston, understandably preferring to stay in the few remaining greener, shadier areas. Leaving the bathroom light on after dark served as a decent 'moth trap', attracting a variety of species (of course the moths were free to leave once the light was turned off), with common wainscot (Mythimna pallens) being the most frequently seen. Common footman and brimstone moths also made an appearance, but there were more than a few species that I was unable to identify. At the beginning of the month there was a surge in numbers of a rather attractive fly (if flies can ever be considered attractive), ereothrix rufomaculata, which could often be seen crawling around on top of ragwort flowers (image below).

Male Adonis Blue, Church Hill, 5 August

Ereothrix Rufomaculata on Ragwort, Therfield Heath, 1 August

Bird migration was in full swing by the middle of the month. Pied flycatchers were reported from a number of sites in Hertfordshire, but none were found locally. However, several wheatears and at least four whinchats did spend a few days at what seems to have become a regular 'stopping off' place for them, along the road between Wallington and Baldock, where I was able to get some 'record shots' of the latter species.

Whinchat, seen near Wallington, 12 August

I saw another Jersey tiger moth close to the house on the 18th. On the last of this summer's Herts. and Middlesex Butterfly Conservation walks, held on the 22nd, I was able to show people the Adonis blues on Church Hill and one of the participants found a mating pair of this beautiful butterfly. Also seen on the walk were a mating pair of robber flies (I never see them doing anything other than mating - what a life they must lead!) and a red-legged shield bug. This shield bug was a 'first' for me, although it is apparently quite common. Strangely, I found one in the garden on the same day and later one in the house - could it have been the same one that had hitched a lift on/in my rucksack or even my (currently rather unruly) hair?

Jersey Tiger Moth, Royston, 18 August

Adonis Blues Mating, Church Hill, 22 August

Having not seen them at all in June and July, I found single spotted flycatchers in two separate locations not far from the house in late August. Whether these were 'summer residents' or just passing through on migration is unclear.

Spotted Flycatcher, Therfield, 23 August

A visit to Amwell pits, in order to photograph dragonflies in flight, on the 24th was less than successful, but I saw and photographed several of the increasingly common willow emerald damselflies whilst I was there.

Willow Emerald Damselfly, Amwell, 24 August

On the following day, rain (21mm of it) finally arrived in Royston! We had missed the heavy showers and thunderstorms that had hit other parts of the country in the previous few days, but this was more widespread rain and desperately needed. It seemed strange not to have to water the garden every day. With cooler (but still very warm) weather I was able to go on my first 8-9 mile 'local patch' walk for over three months on the 30th, again seeing spotted flycatchers (two this time, including a juvenile) along the Icknield Way. A grey wagtail and a tufted duck were seen at Phillup's Lake, but the families of coot and Canada geese had gone.

Red Kite in Flight, Phillup's Lake, 30 August

Another Spotted Flycatcher, Icknield Way, Therfield, 30 August

Ivy bees were on the wing by the end of the month, and I spent some time trying to photograph them on ivy plants (very tricky!). Whilst I was doing this on the 31st a large flock of swallows and house martins was feeding over the fields at Greys Farm, and I managed to spot a single sand martin in amongst them. I also took some decent photos of Adonis blue butterflies on Church Hill during the last week of August.