What to see in Summer
“I love how summer just wraps its arms around you like a warm blanket”
Kellie Elmore - American Author
The beauty of summer grasses
Although I love the winter where you don’t have to get up so early to catch the dawn (in summer, 3.30 alarm call anyone?), I much prefer the warmth of summer and there’s usually much more to see, butterflies for instance…
Marbled Whites on Boxhill, Skipper’s, Meadow Brown’s and Small Heath’s on Barnes Common. Although Butterfly Conservation tell us that many of our favourite butterflies are in decline (take Gatekeepers for instance), one that has bucked the trend in Barnes is the wonderful Marbled White, where we have seen an increase in the past two years.
As well as butterflies, all of nature is frantically having offspring and if you have your camera to hand, many cute moments to be captured, as well as the darker side of larger animals preying on their smaller cousins…like here when I witnessed a fox stalking a Lapwing’s nest at WWT London last summer (if you look closely you can see the unfortunate parent birds flying frantically above).
The Wetland Centre in Barnes is a wonderful place to spend some time, as I discovered when putting together my book last year. From the very successful Black-Headed Gulls and their young (did you know they lose their black heads in winter) to the fabulous display of wild flowers throughout July. You might even spot the rare Bee Orchid.
The Bee Orchid
Summer is also the season for Dragonflies and Damselflies and for us photographers, its helpful that when disturbed, they will sometimes come back and perch in the same place.
Emperor Dragonflies mating
We all loved blowing Dandelion seeds as a kid, well, when out in the countryside do look out for the seed-head of the fabulously named Goat’s Beard, which is like a massive Dandelion.
Goat’s Beard Seed-Head
Do have a wonderful summer and if you come across something interesting please do share it with either me or the world at large and don’t forget you can keep up with my comings and goings on social media @WildLondonPics