This outing was originally planned for the 16th July but sadly we were stymied by the record breaking heatwave & we agreed it would have been unwise to proceed so it was rescheduled for the nearest date when we were all next available. The delay of 3 weeks unfortunately meant that the orchid display that I had seen at the end of June had totally disappeared!
Even so there was still an impressive number of flowering plants; Yellow & Purple Loosestrife, Field Scabious, Narrow-leaved Water-plantain, White flowered Musk Mallow, Club Rush, Yellow Water Lilies, Evening Primrose & masses of Teasels. Common Blue damselflies & Brown Hawkers were on the wing as were Small Tortoiseshells, Small White & Green-veined White butterflies, Meadow Browns & Common Carpet Moth.
Swifts & Sand Martins were screeching overhead. Whilst we looking at the river a Kingfisher flew up & down the river so we all got at least one decent view!
Fungi seen were Blushing Bracket & Southern Bracket. After lunch Sue Z & Marilyn took their leave & the remaing five headed to the nature reserve at Sun Lane.
The weather during the day was warmish but each time the sun emerged it became too hot for jackets/jumpers so there was a lot of stopping to change clothing. The large buddleia near the gate had no butterflies when we entered but on our way out contained 3 Commas, Red Admiral, Peacock & Holly Blue.
This site is also rich botanically & we saw Tansy, lots of Red Bartsia, Betony, Agrimony, Great Burnet, Common Centaury, large Eryngiums & Devil's bit. Alice was particularly pleased to see Small Teasels, an uncommon plant.
A caterpillar on the path was that of the White Ermine moth.
A bonus was that the rain never arrived.
See the photos here.
John Gavaghan