It’s certainly been the strangest start to a year that I can remember. The winter ended with endless torrential rain, which flooded our fields. For the first time in ages, I had to abandon my daily poo-picking because everything was under water and I struggled to keep my feet on the soggy ground.
Then we had the driest spring on record. The same waterlogged fields turned to the consistency of lumpy concrete and nothing grew. It was the same at the reserves too and I’m sure it affected the bugs. Demoiselles appeared as expected and I spotted the first individuals to emerge. However… returning about a week later, they had all gone and even on subsequent visits, I found none. The white-legged and blue-tailed damselflies are there in normal numbers, but there are no other bugs at all. There are no robberflies, craneflies, spiders, ladybirds, weevils, midges, pill beetles or leafhoppers. I have actually given up with our local country park, where I would normally be spending a couple of afternoons there every week until the end of June.
Last week, I made the 2.5 hour round trip to Woods Mill, where I have previously photographed assorted damselflies, demoiselles, mayflies and bees, but found nothing. I did get chatting to a lovely gentleman who was also using a Nikon camera with a 105mm macro lens. This was one of his local patches and he told me about giant hornets and beautiful demoiselles that should have been a bit further along the path. We explored together, but found nothing and so he went home. I waited a while longer before also heading home having taken no images at all.
I know of some butterflies showing in the area, but we had a really long, windy spell. Once the wind died down, we had a short heatwave. Thankfully, that ended a couple of days ago and yet I’m sitting here in the study with the wind gusting to over 30mph outside. I can’t help but wonder if I will have to give up on this season and wait for autumn to arrive. The photograph featured above was taken in our local deer park last November.
Steve
23 Jun 2025It certainly has been a weird start to the year weather wise and soaring temperatures do nothing for me, or the wildlife.
Zooey
23 Jun 2025I hate the heat too. I would be happy if every summer day was about 20 degrees with a gentle breeze 🙂
Sid
26 Jun 2025Great shot, lovely deer ♥️
After months of rain a coming hot summer has announced itself with wild temperatures!
Must wait for autumn 😊😏
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
26 Jun 2025I’m sorry to hear about your heatwave. I fear it is something we are all going to have to get used to. Temperatures here are expected to hit 33C over the weekend…