Diary

July 2005

Weather

I measured 25.5mm of rainfall in my Benson garden during July. That is about an inch in old money but only 44% of the long term average for the month of July. How come the rest of the country/world seems to be getting copious rainfall but none or very little locally? The total for the year is now only 52% of the average for the first seven months of the year. The wettest day was the 30th with 9.3mm of rain.

Minimum temperatures were above average for most of the month with only eight isolated readings below the average. The lowest temperature recorded (6.5°C) ocurred on the night of the 4th/5th. Maximum temperatures were at or slightly below average during the first and last weeks but well above during the middle two weeks.

Birds

The summer "doldrums" continues with little to report on the bird front. A small party of Linnets were frequent visitors to the area around the Centre - whether attracted by the weed seeds or the drinking water I am not sure. The female Yellow Wagtail was also around the same area on a couple of occasions and Swallows and House Martins frequently dipped their beaks into the water to drink.



Butterflies

Des tells me that he has seen most of the species on his "Ewelme" list. The two migrants (Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow) have, somewhat surprisingly not put in an appearance yet and the rather sporadic Small Blue seems to have given it a miss this year. He was, however, lucky enough to spot a Small Copper on one occasion.



Etc.

Des has now completed his Water Vole survey and reports fairly healthy numbers but down a little on last year. He also found a shift upstream possibly because of the very low stream flow. One of the reserves Grass Snakes took offence at being photographed but you will have to ask Des about that - beautiful photo though!.

A few dragonflies were seen hawking over the beds but too quick for me to identify. I managed to get photographs of two rather attractive beetles (well they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder). The first was a huge Musk Beetle measuring over 2 inches (50mm) including antennae - I thought at first it was a low flying helicopter!



And the second, a beetle that, in my book, doesn't have a common name but is called Chrysolina Polita. I saw lots of these doing their best to help reproduce their genes.