Local Patch - 29th July. Pictures include Leaf-cutter Bee, Hoverfly,Diptera Sp. and Volucella Inanis,

Nature is amazing; walking one morning there was a commotion as a Sparrowhawk flipped in under the trees clutching a small unidentifiable bird in its talons. This bird was not very happy judging by the noise and nor were all the other birds in the immediate area who had started up their alarm calls – sadly a little late for the unfortunate breakfast target! That small family of Mallard duck have got a bit smaller. There is still one duckling which is growing well, but nature has taken its toll on the rest of them! A bit further round, a Common Sandpiper was bobbing along the side of the water and then flew off, while two Green Sandpipers seem to have taken up residence between the different patches of water. The Sand Martins and Swifts have left, obviously making tracks for home while the weather is set fair in this country and just a few Swallows have taken their place hawking the insects over the water. Last year was the first time Swallows bred on the Patch for years, and they have returned to the same stables to nest again, bringing off a brood again this year. The Linnets that I have never seen before this year are up to a family group of about 12 birds, and they are competing with the Gold, Green and Chaffinches for seed. Whitethroat and Blackcap are skulking in the undergrowth if you are quick enough to see them, but it is this time of year that I turn my attention to smaller creatures. Wandering through the lanes it is interesting to watch the different species of ground-nesting and leaf cutter bees that feed on the surrounding vegetation as well as the White-tailed, Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumble Bees that compete on the flowers while Meadow Brown, Large White and Gatekeeper butterflies float by. The Cinnabar moth caterpillars have nearly stripped the Ragwort of leaves now and the flowers are almost over. Flower life this year is struggling with the lack of rain and the blackberries are failing to form in many places, but then we have been moaning that the last few summers have not been warm enough. I am not complaining, I am enjoying this summer weather.

Local Patch - 18th July. Pictures include Purple Hairstreak Butterfly and Purple Loosestrife

I have seen the Swan family, good..still five youngsters. This weekly count might sound boring but last year the parents only managed to bring off two out of a brood of six and the previous three years they lost all their brood. In fact one year, they lost them to the cold just after hatching and it was quite interesting to watch the pair go through a bonding process and mate again the day after losing their young. They did not nest again that year but these two swans are very close to one another and never physically far apart. Nature is not always good! Walking the Tow Path listening to the everlasting screech of Parakeets and looking at the invasive Indian Balm I was beginning to feel grumpy! Then..high drama! Do you remember the duckling family I mentioned. Well, we are now down to two ducklings, and this morning there were two very distressed young ducklings and no mother mallard. I stopped to watch these two as they cryed out, trying to work out what could have happened. Bits of the bank of the Tow Path had been beaten down, had she been taken by a wily fox? Worse still...frightened off by a dog? Thinking I couldn't do anything I sadly walked on away from them knowing that they stood no chance on their own, they were far too young. Then I remembered a shabby female mallard on the other bank that I had passed, was that her and I thought if I made them go towards her they might linkup. I turned and almost ran back. There was no sign of them! I kept going and suddenly out of the undergrowth came a startled female mallard with 2 contented looking ducklings! Goodness only knows where she had been! My photograph is not good but I was happy to get it! The Purple Loosestrife is beginning to look really good, I love this plant and so do the bees and other insects. The Ragwort is full out as is the Tansy making a lovely yellow glow all over the place. The Cinnabar Moth caterpillars are still on the Ragwort, and there are plenty of Gatekeeper butterflies. We had some rain this week which has freshened the landscape a little, but there is a feel of full on summer, with the barley being harvested this week. Returning home I stopped to look at a flock of birds, mixed green and chaffinches flitting around an Oak tree. I suddenly realised that I was also watching Purple Hairstreak butterflies that were moving around the tope of this tree. I have never seen this butterfly on the Patch before...a first for me! Then out of the corner of my eye the Roe Deer moved out into a clearing. The sun was not quite up enough to get a clear picture but as I haven't seen these creatures for a few days I thought it was worth a try.

Local Patch - 11th July. Pictures include Meadowsweet, Hemp Agrimony, Gatekeeper, Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar, Common Darter

Walking around I have noticed the Hemp Agrimony is just coming into flower along the canal bank to join the Meadowsweet that has been in bloom for some weeks and the first Purple Loostrife is just coming out, a sign that summer is well and truly established. The red poppies that were covered in bees have gone over but there has been a fresh emergence of Common Darter and these are playing around the brambles that are setting well with blackberries. Walking along the canal to the song of the Skylark, a female Mallard appeared with 3 very new ducklings. With all the Mallards in moult and there being absolutely no competition, sometimes these late families do well, lets hope so! Still five young swans, one flapped its wings this morning and I realised just how short and stubby these are. It must be months before a young swan develops any flight feathers and can fly. Suddenly, while standing watching the adult Coot teach its youngster how to preen, there was a flash of blue and a Kingfisher darted past me. With a swift 180 turn it came past me again and I watched it until it disappeared around the corner. I haven't seen a Kingfisher on the Canal since the cold weather of January... fantastic! Moving on to the Sand Martins home I realised that they have stopped darting in and out of the nests of which there have been about 30. These brilliant little birds were buzzing about 4 feet above my head as they hawked for flies. 3 Green Sandpipers flew over and landed on a spit of land away to my right while juvenile Greenfinches, Whitethroat, Reed Buntings, Great Tits, Grey Wagtails and Blue Tits all jostled for space amongst the bushes. I haven't seen the Roe Deer, having got only one picture from a distance, I am sure it will turn up again

Local Patch - 6th July. Pictures include Linnet, Goldfinch and White-tailed Bumble Bee

For several weeks now I have thought about writing a regular blog about my "Local Patch" just to keep you updated on the progress of life as the seasons go through. But where do you start? As I walked round this morning, camera in hand, I realised that there was never going to be a good starting point and so I have decided that the quiet summer months is probably just as good as any other time. The Mute Swan family sailed past me, two parents with five youngsters. They have done well. I remember for the first 7 days of their lives back in the first week of May, these five cygnets were kept alive on Mum's back. It was so cold, this very expereinced pair obviously thought it was safer to keep them wrapped up in the female's "duvet of feathers" to keep them warm rather than leave them to their own devices on the cold water. It has paid off and this family is now doing really well with the cygnets displaying some independent behaviour, feeding, preening and guarding eacch other whilst taking turns to sleep on th bank. As I walked, Linnets and Goldfinches buzzed past me to find a safer place to watch me from. The Goldfinches were making their usual trilling bells song but over this I could Chiff Chaff and Reed Bunting. Then suddenly I saw a super Roe Deer buck. He was a bit wary but didn't shy away from me only running when someone else came by on a bike. I will try to get a photo to show you. Other bits to notice are that the Tufted Vetch is looking magnifient this year in the hedgerows and a huge bank of red poppies are alive with bumble bees of all descriptions.