Some rain may also be welcomed in the hay meadow which is looking parched. The plant grows about 1.5m tall and turns its flat leaves on their side with the spiky midrib sticking out, all the leaves are supposed to point north-south. One rather surprising interaction seems to be taking place under the clump of large black poplars on the riverbank. Insects Look out for black caterpillars of peacock butterflies, they are rather late this year and some are still in webs on stinging nettles along the river. Small tortoiseshell caterpillars are similar although not completely black and they are also found on nettles.
Dragonflies are now very common along the river, pond and lake.
It was being battered by the wind and in danger of being blown into the water. When offered my hand it walked on then walked off again in a more sheltered position a few feet away, this new position also just happened to be more photogenic. Birds House martins are now very common all round the trail, they swoop low over the pond and grassland scooping up insects. Fortunately it seems that the current redecorating of the Venables building has not disrupted the colony too much with window frames been painted round the nests. The pair of kestrels nesting along the trail bred successfully and the fledgling is now being 'persuaded' to fly, you may see it sitting on one of the fences with the parent birds nearby offering loud encouragement.