A source has informed me that 2 fields between the railway tunnel and the rail bridge that was being worked on (out by the Lees) have been planted with wild flowers. The reason being that the farm cannot now get a combine over the bridge to harvest the crop. So uneconomical to sustain it.
I had a walk out there today and the fields have been worked but all I could see were mainly thistle growing and sparse areas of other plants otherwise quite devoid of any insect life. Will wait and see how this develops.
Further out beyond the Lees, both Sedge (5) and Reed Warbler (2) present, Chiffchaff (2), Blackcap (2), Common Whitethroat (1), Yellow Wagtail (3), Yellowhammer (5), Reed Bunting (6), Skylark (10+) and Corn Bunting (1).
Although insects were relatively sparce there were a few:
Dragonflies: Beautiful Demoiselle, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Emperor and Black-tailed Skimmer.
Butterflies: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small Heath.
A few more Bees, solitary Wasps and others noted.
Alan out and about along the river and added: Cuckoo, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Kingfisher, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Swallow, House Martin, Swift and Grey Wagtail.
Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle, Beautiful Demoiselle, Emerald Damselfly, White-legged Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.
Butterflies: Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Red Admiral and Common Blue.
Still no sign of Swallow and House Martin nesting in the Church Road area of the village.
The House Martins that turned up last week probably have not been able to find mud to either repair or rebuild their nests and have not discovered pre-built nest boxes nearby?
Or, could it be lack of aerial insects?
Emerald Damselfly courtesy Alan
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