DAVID'S NATURE BLOG

LATE JULY and EARLY AUGUST 2026 - GARDEN DELIGHTS

The hot weather of late has prevented me from going out into the wide local world, except to Southern Country Park to try for Emerald Damselfly, which was successful with regards to getting the target species, but which didn’t do me any favours I terms of health matters. Consequently, my garden and the wildlife pond within it, has to all intents and purposes, been my saviour, in terms of the Natural World.

Of course, the garden certainly couldn’t possibly compete, species wise, with the catchment area around Bishop’s Stortford, and I could do nothing about what other parties were finding and reporting, but at least I was seeing and observing some wildlife - mainly butterflies, moths, dragonflies, etc. - which were some kind of consolation.

I haven’t been able to capitalise on the recent staggering numbers of Painted Lady butterflies, although I’ve had a trickle of PL’s through the garden, culminating in one which - rather than storm through as most of them seen to have done - stayed in the garden for over two hours, occasionally leaving for a few minutes, then returning to gorge on the nectar provided by my Verbenas. And it was very co-operative in terms of being photographed.

Over the same period, I’ve recorded at least eight Jersey Tiger Moths, and one Garden Tiger Moth (at night) which was only my second record - the first being in my garden in Romford, Essex in the early 1960’s.

In addition, I’ve seen two Gypsy Moths (my second and third records), one of which rested on the outside wall of my kitchen and was photographed.

Carpenter Bees have been using my Bee Hotel for the first time since it installed it two years ago, and observing and photographing them has been totally fascinating.

In terms of visiting dragonfly species, well it hasn’t been an especially good year with regard to the number of species, but I’ve had two new species for the garden - a Common Blue Damselfly back on 18 May (which was at the wildlife pond along with a male Large Red Damselfly) and a Western Willow Emerald Damselfly, which was seen on 8 August, in the presence of a male Common Darter; this was especially pleasing since it was also my first Willow Emerald for the year - but to get one actually settled in my garden was totally unexpected; the species is still relatively rare, but is extending its range, especially in the South and East of England. Luckily, apart from the odd altercation between the two, the Darter left the Emerald well alone.

Common Darters have been seen quite regularly since the end of July, including a female which was observed ovipositing, and a pair in tandem. On 10 August there were two males, although a brief attack by one soon pushed the other off. But on 11 August I was successful in obtaining photographs of a pair in tandem on the branch of a Silver Birch near my pond, following which the pair - still in tandem - returned to the pond for more egg laying.

Birds have largely been absent in the summer months - apart from the usual culprits i.e. Sparrows; Starlings; Magpies; Woodpigeons; the occasional Carrion Crow, and of course, Red Kites, always overhead. But I did record three juvenile Greenfinches on 26 July that flew in briefly - only the second record since I came to Bishop’s Stortford in 2002; and a superb adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen briefly on the roof of my next door neighbour's house, overlooking my garden, one morning recently.