Date: 3rd August 2026
Time: from 11 a.m.
Weather: dry, sunny, light wind, 24°C to 27°C
I had a delayed start to my visit this morning and when I arrived butterfly activity was very evident but photography was challenging due to the hot weather. I only managed to get a few photos, especially of Painted Ladies, when they briefly landed to feed.
Nonetheless, the spectacle of the super-abundance of butterflies in the Knapweed and Ragwort meadow in the northern section of the site was amazing.
I only recorded 7 species of butterfly but the numbers of 2 of them were far higher than I ever seen in a single location anywhere: Painted Lady (at least 80), Common Blue (at least 40), Small Heath (3), Brown Argus (1), Gatekeeper (at least 15), Large/Small White (at least 10)
Dragonflies and damselflies continue to be very scarce this year both in terms of the number of species and abundance. I saw none on this visit.
It was again remarkably quiet for birds with only 9 species heard and/or seen, the notable records being:
Common Buzzard: initially heard “mewing” and then 2 birds seen soaring together high over the northern section of the site
Blackcap: 1 heard alarm calling in the northern section of the site but none seen
Green Woodpecker: juvenile seen and photographed in the eastern section of the cemetery and another heard calling in the northern section of the site but not seen
With regard to mammals, I recorded a single Grey Squirrel in the eastern section of the cemetery.
Species recorded during this visit were as follows (heard only records in italics):
Here are some photos from my visit ….
Photo: Brown Argus
Photo: Juvenile Green Woodpecker
Site totals for 2026 to date (2025 and 2024 totals in brackets):
Total species list for the site
Love nature .... act now
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