Darters Delight

Britain's heat wave continues and it was almost too hot for comfort today as I took a stroll down to Gretton weir. Even insects seem to be suffering and numbers of both butterflies and dragonflies seemed down.

Small Copper and female Common Blue.

Plenty of Common Blues at Willowbrook Industrial Estate with over fifty being seen though my highlight was a single Small Copper which I managed to photograph. Other species included three each of both Brown Argus and Small Heath. The outward walk through Brookfield Plantation was not too productive as the rides were still for the most part in shade though Speckled Woods and Common Darters made the most of any sunny spots. I caught a brief view of a small party of Fallow Deer which included a couple of fawns but they disappeared almost as quickly as they had appeared.

Green-veined and Small White.

The walk towards Gretton was a bit uneventful, the white butterflies remain common but numbers of the browns are much decreased since their peak of a fortnight or so. Very few of the larger species seem about at the moment and I'm not sure if they're sitting out the hottest parts of the day or just plain absent.

Ringlet variations.



Gretton weir was rather disappointing as it has been for most of this summer. White-legged Damsel's season appears to be over as none were seen and Banded Demoiselles were very scarce indeed. A single Migrant Hawker was holding station over the Welland while several Brown Hawkers were actively hunting. This latter species seems to be the only one of the largest species that seems to be in anything like their usual numbers, perhaps they deal with the heat more efficiently? A pleasing sighting here was of a large flock of Lapwings in a field next to the river, at least a hundred birds.

The Welland and a juvenile Robin.

On the return through Brookfield I saw half a dozen Ringlets, their numbers always seem to plummet once July has finished but they did include one with an interesting variation. This butterfly had much reduced ring markings on its underwing and appeared rather plain when compared to its relatives. Also present but I small numbers were Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.

Meadow Brown.

With little of interest on view I took some time to take some photographs of the many Ruddy and Common Darters which frequented the rides, they really are obliging little creatures!

Common and Ruddy Darters.