As you have probably gathered by now we don't seem to be having the driest of summers. It's not that we have been having particularly heavy rain, rather it has been mostly light with endless overcast skies, at least that's that way it feels.

It may not have been a consequence of this weather but this year I have noticed that there has been a noticeable drop in the number of butterfly's that I have seen.

Of those that I have seen two seem to have broken the trend. The first is the Gatekeeper butterfly, shown here on the right. This one was photographed has it rested between feeding on the nectar of bramble flowers.

The second is the Speckled Wood.

They are a very territorial butterfly as was the case with this one.

While I was watching this one it drove off several rivals before it returned to rest upon the same nettle leaf that you see in the photograph.

Also taking advantage of the appearance of the summer sun is this dragonfly.

I think that this particular one belongs to a family know as Hawkers but don't quote me on that.

Although dragonflies can be quiet large they are harmless, and they are one of my favorite insects (and there isn't many of them on my list) despite this many people appear to have a fear of them.

I must confess that I find it amusing watching how people will duck and weave when one darts in amongst them :-)

This next photograph is of a Song Thrush.

Related to the Blackbird these birds, at least locally do not appear to be as common as they used to be.

As I mentioned last month concerning the mortality of Robins, I think that part of the reason for this decline in numbers is due to the ever increasing rise in the numbers of domestic cats.

They present an ever growing threat to small mammals, birds and even reptiles. in the locale where I live their numbers are becoming a real pest. If they were, for example mink, there would be action taken to control there numbers.

Finally for this month, a small request for any of you bird watchers out there.

I am almost certain that the bird on the right is a member of the warbler family. Am I correct and which one is it please? If you know could you let me know and then I can amend the details.

Well thats it for now lets hope september is a little drier

See you next month, Andy.

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