July can seem quieter for birds with most activity early or late in the day in the cooler temperatures. Also, many passerines (perching birds) are more elusive as their energies are spent on replacing feathers after the rigours of breeding, although some multi-brooded species will still be breeding.
Perhaps the most obvious moult will be amongst our wildfowl whose moult strategy involves the simultaneous loss of flight feathers, rendering them flightless for a few weeks. You’ll notice the drake Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Mandarins (the species most likely to be encountered locally in the summer months) are looking rather drab and resemble the females.
In fine weather enjoy watching the Swifts before they depart early next month. This is also a good time to watch for soaring raptors making the most of thermals in fine weather. Juvenile Sparrowhawks will be fledging as there will be a bounty of other inexperienced young birds to make hunting easier.
Joining some of the other brown butterfly species this month will be the Gatekeeper, sometimes also called the Hedge Brown. This is quite a common butterfly in the outer parts of the borough and is seen in sunny glades, along hedge lines etc. The larvae, like others of its family, feed on various grasses, so it is beneficial if you can leave an area of lawn uncut as a mini-meadow.
Warm, muggy nights can yield good catches of moths. Species possible include Buff Arches, Mother of Pearl, Yellow Shell (often disturbed by day from vegetation), Light Emerald and Large Yellow Underwing. By day plenty of 6-spot Burnet Moths can be seen feeding on Knapweeds, Scabious and Thistles in meadows.
Some of the larger species of Dragonflies will now be coming out on the wing. Brown Hawkers (very obvious with a brown abdomen and amber wings) and Southern Hawker, an often inquisitive species that will come up and investigate you. The latter species will often breed in small garden ponds. Smaller dragonflies emerging will be Common and Ruddy Darters.
If you can find White Bryony, a climbing hedgerow and woodland edge plant, look out for a couple of insects dependent on it; the Bryony Ladybird (a relatively large orange species) and the Bryony Bee, a solitary species.
Around ponds look out for a number of wetland flowering species such as Purple Loosestrife, the totally unrelated Yellow Loosestrife (in the primrose family), Flowering Rush (not a rush at all!) and of course White, Yellow and Fringed Water-lilies on the surface.
What to see each month is written by EWG member and naturalist Neil Anderson.