The abundance of nature is intoxicating as we glide through the halfway point of the year. Wild and cultivated flowers sing from every patch of land and greenery triumphs towards the sky. Whether we look in the air, in the waterways, on the ground or bury our faces in the velvet kiss of a blooming rose, there are species waiting to be discovered. Here are a few of my local highlights to enjoy right now:
Hedgehogs. I have been delighted to hear of numerous sightings of our declining prickly friend in and around Sea Mills/ Coombe Dingle. They are breeding right now, so if you discover one in its nest in your garden do leave well alone – mothers will abandon young hoglets if disturbed. Look out for mums, hoglets and their crinkly black droppings in the weeks to come on lawns and lanes at night.
Collared Doves. Although they only started nesting in Britain in the 1950s, these have been almost as ubiquitous as the wood pigeon, but recently have become a rare sight and sound in our gardens. They are suffering a big decline due to Trichomoniasis, a fatal, parasitic disease which has also greatly impacted our greenfinches. However, I happily heard the slightly bored football-fan call from a nearby cypress this morning (“United United United”); look out for them singing from tree tops and bearing their thin black collar on a suit of dove (obviously) grey.
Insects Insects Insects! Even if you’re not their biggest fan, there will be some type of bug that you can get behind at this time of year! In the meadow tread carefully in the long grass and look for the funnel lair of the labyrinth spider, or spot little wolf spiders carrying around their cargo of eggs in bare patches of ground. Dodge the noisy bumbling flight of the fluffy cockchafer. Marvel at the aerial dexterity and shining patterns of the many hoverflies or seek longhorn beetles and ladybird larvae in open, radiant blooms. Each deserves its own spotlight feature; once you start really looking you will be astounded at the variety and sheer weirdness of these abundant residents. Of course, on sunny, windless days the air will shimmer to the beat of butterfly wings; I have seen skippers, heath, commas, meadow browns, speckled woods and many of the aristocrats (family Nymphalidae such as Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Peacock) gracing our airspace to name but a few. One lucky neighbour also spotted a Scarlet Tiger moth in her garden.
Hirundines and Swift. Here for a few short months only. Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the swooping of swallows, the ceaseless skybound antics of the swift or the wheeling winged pursuit of the house martins. We have them all here in our local area, sharing our summer and the lavish sustenance of the season.
Recent Star Sighting – Red Admiral Butterfly
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