How has this weather affected your wildlife?

Bijdezee · July 2018

I've noticed that it's all gone rather quiet. I'm not seeing many birds in the garden, the masses of butterflies are gone too. The field of grain behind us seems to have been cut 3 weeks earlier this year but we haven't seen any birds of prey after the dislodged mice.

Any one else noticing similar?

Guernsey Donkey2 · July 2018

I am just on a tiny island so the wildlife is restricted anyway, but I have noticed the birds feeding in the morning, probably resting up around noon - 18.00 hrs and then coming for a late evening feed around 19 - 21.00 hrs. We have a pond and various dishes so plenty of water around the garden for them. Yes, the fields have been cut earlier this year - if it does eventually rain the farmer will probably make another cut in September. We appear to have more butterflies and moths and bees than usual but a shortage of other insects. Our house hasn't been invaded by ants yet - we usually have two or three batches of them in the sunlounge but not yet.

Lyn · July 2018

No, I’ve had more than ever, there must be the whole bee population of Devon in my garden.

Singing Gardener · July 2018

Lots of bees and butterflies here - and a few horse flies

Plenty of goldfinches and blackbirds, and I saw a mistle thrush yesterday, which I haven't done for years. I also saw a sparrowhawk just miss one the blackbirds. The magpies have gone very quiet though recently.

AnniD · July 2018

The pigeons are still making a racket in the mornings, but the smaller birds seem to have disappeared. Plenty of cabbage white butterflies and bees though.

plant pauper · July 2018

Everything is going nuts here! Loads of fledglings and countless damsel and dragonflies. I did have to rescue a very wet and cheesed off bumble bee this afternoon. I'm wondering was it the first time it had been rained on as it was definitely a bit miffed! Stood up and waved it's legs at me and everything. I put it on a nasturtium to cool it's heels.

Mark56 · July 2018

Lots of bees and butterflies, no sign of the birds apart from the Pigeons

pottiepam · July 2018

I saw a small dead mole in the lane and my daughter had one in her garden. They must be struggling to find worms.

Valley Gardener · July 2018

The birds have all disappeared apart from a family of starlings,and a family of sparrows.Loads of different bees and butterflies,and now an odd wasp or two!

AuntyRach · July 2018

I think my bird, bee and butterflies are about the same as usual. One thing I have noticed is the lack of slugs. I have seen a few snails (as my Hosta will tell you) but the lack of rain has certainly kept the slug activity down (or they ate so much of my stuff in Spring that they are on holiday).

Buttercupdays · July 2018

Like Pansyface, loads of bird babies: chaffinches, great tits, blackbirds, woodpecker, 7 mallard ducklings, swallows and others. I know the wagtails nested but haven't seen the babies and there may well be goldfinches, but they will look like their parents!

But I haven't seen any robins, young or old, since the end of winter, though I've been feeding all the time, and there were several around before.

Not many bees about. We only get bumbles and I think they were hit hard by the winter and a very brief spring. Also my garden is severely lacking flowers as the accursed sheep are still wandering and eating everything that dares to show its head.

We had orange tips and now have lots of small whites dancing everywhere. They love the great willow herb in the wilderness, which is looking the best we've ever seen it. I've seen a peacock and a painted lady and one or two browns. There are lots of grasshoppers, my daughter says, though I can't hear them.

And today I found 2 beautiful wasps' nests when I went to clean out the hen house, ready for getting some new hens. So that plan's on hold, but I now know why the brassicas had some little holes in the leaves but hardly any caterpillars!

How has this weather affected your wildlife?

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