A Walk Along the River.

X4 time again this morning when I took my favourite mode of transport over to Oundle. As a change from my normal routine I walked from the north bridge to Cotterstock before having a quick look at the site of the old Dragonfly Museum at Ashton Mill.

Cotterstock.

While we're still very firmly in the grip of Summer it's not difficult to detect the gentle touch of Autumn on the countryside. Rowan berries are already red on the trees and providing a meal for Blackbirds and other thrushes while many blackberries and elderberries are also ripening. With the haws slowly beginning to colour up too and the first leaves beginning to change it's hard to believe that yet another Summer is passing by. A trickle of passage migrants is beginning to filter southwards and will soon become a stream, eyes grown accustomed to looking down will have to get used to looking upwards again but for now the emphasis is still very much on insects.

One of several Grey Herons seen today.


 

A rather worn looking Small Copper.

It was still a little cool when I set out and the only things stirring were the birds, the riverside vegetation seemed alive with warblers. Swallows and Martins were joined by the occasional Swift in their dashing pursuit of insects while a passing Buzzard annoyed the local crows. I enjoyed watching a family of Green Woodpeckers feeding in one of the fields and also heard Great Spotteds calling from the trees. Once again I was treated to good views of Kingfishers and Herons while at Cotterstock weir a Grey Wagtail showed well.

Male Grey Wagtail.

Yesterday's Migrant Hawker disappointment was soon forgotten as one of several seen today stopped long enough for my autofocus to work, sadly the Brown Hawkers did not oblige. Even in warming conditions it was a struggle to find much, a tatty Small Copper at Cotterstock was one of the few highlights. Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper numbers were low and a single Common Blue was a meagre return for my walk. A couple of Burdocks did at least give me the chance to admire a male Brimstone which was joined by a Comma and two Red Admirals.

Gotcha! Migrant Hawker.

 

Brimstone.

Continuing along the river a couple of Common Darters showed well and several Red-eyeds were sitting on the lilies with a single Blue-tailed keeping them company. Closer to Ashton a male Black-tailed Skimmer was having a bit of a lazing session on a log. Around the mill itself it was butterflies that grabbed the attention, a single male Brimstone was rather eclipsed by an immaculate Painted Lady. Lots of Peacocks were feeding on the many teasels and a few Large Whites flitted by. A Brown Hawker did land but was so obscured by the stalks of thistles and grasses that I didn't bother with a photo.

Black-tailed Skimmer.

Painted Lady.