So far there don’t seem to be as many flowers appearing after the hay cut as there were last year. On Middle Common there is a scattering of the yellow flowers of Cat’s Ear and Autumn Hawkbit mixed with the pink of Red Clover. Hopefully more will appear as the month progresses, that is if the weather stays warm enough.  There are several different types of fungi to be seen.

In the grassland the little tufts of White Spindles fungus are widespread. Perhaps the wet summer may result in an autumn abundance of fungi.  It has generally been a poor year for butterflies. Despite the lack of sun, the recent warm week encouraged some butterfly activity in our garden. In addition to the usual ‘whites’, Brimstone, Peacock, Comma and Red Admiral were on the Buddleia.  After the heavy rain most disappeared and walking round the Common on the 1st we saw only a single Speckled Wood and a solitary rather damp Common Blue roosting on a grass head.

See July’s Nature Notes

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White Spindles Fungi

Brimstone butterfly on Buddleia

Autumn Hawkbit

Cat’s Ear

Peacock butterfly

Red Admiral butterfly