22nd June 2012

Another busy week at work draws to a close. Never in my five years in this job can I remember having to deal quite so much with such unseasonable conditions, but I shan’t complain. The weather situation did improve marginally for the summer solstice itself though, this year a day earlier (Wed 20th) owing to the leap year. The occasional spells of warm sunshine this week were enough to coax out the first Meadow Brown and (very late!) Small Tortoiseshell butterflies of the year in the garden, and the first Mullein moth caterpillar was spotted munching away on its namesake plant in one of the borders. Ornithologically speaking, the highlight of the week was undoubtedly the five Red Kites that circled high over the garden before drifting southeast on Monday lunchtime. Other observations this week included singing Whitethroat and Garden Warbler along the southern boundary, Stock Dove nesting in one of the chestnut trees along the northern fenceline, and at least a dozen Mistle Thrush in the horse fields adjacent to the garden, many of which were juveniles. In other news, I have submitted my first article for a local newspaper, so I’ll keep you posted on a publication date for that!

Matt

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) on bramble in Surrey, 7th June 2012. Taken on Samsung Galaxy SII.