The revenant

Our fears for Lefty seem to have been premature.

He has been back – just once – to have a drink in the bird bath, and briefly limped across the patio with Mrs Lefty, but has not returned since.  D saw a woodpigeon with a trailing left leg in flight – as Lefty had – over the fields opposite the house, which supports our theory that the old bruiser is still around.

The nearby fields have been mown and there is plenty of grass seed around for him to feed on.  He did seem very dapper, as if he had moulted, and well fed, so there is obviously good living to be had in the area; but he doesn’t seem to have shown any inclination to re-join Mrs Lefty.  Perhaps he was upset by the destruction of the original nest, and doesn’t trust us enough to come back? 

Mrs Lefty, on the other hand, rebuilt her nest in the wisteria and settled down to brood two chicks, which have now flown the nest; at least one is still about, and was seen today being fed by Mum in the garden; they are probably spending most of their time over in the fields, away from the threat from us.

We’re hoping that Lefty might return when food becomes less easy to find as the weather cools.  Not that the weather now is particularly warm.  June was hot and dry, but July was cloudy and wet, with wind at times and not much sun, and August not much better.  There is not much relief promised in the forecast.  This is in stark contrast to southern Europe, which has been alarmingly hot; but the Jetstream is staying to the south of the UK, keeping us unseasonably chilly.

Despite the cool weather, July saw the return of the butterflies.  Earlier in the year they had been much fewer in number than usual, but the flowering of the large patch of oregano in the garden attracted good quantities of bees (of various types) and butterflies.  A marbled white was about for a while, and a scarlet tiger moth spent a few days here; I’ve also seen a hummingbird hawk moth on the mint and buddleja.  (And, speaking of mint, there have been tiny moths which I think are mint moths, although they seem more attracted to the oregano!).  The holly blues have been overtaken by the common blues, and we’ve had a couple of brown argus (another type of ‘blue’ butterfly) as well; meadow browns, small heaths and gatekeepers have been plentiful, with a few ringlets; and in August the summer red admirals, tortoiseshells and peacocks, and a painted lady, came out.  I’ve learnt to identify small coppers and skippers; and today I saw a speckled wood on the brambles across the lane.

Scarlet tiger moth

Marbled white

Small copper

And, after a bit of a hiatus – too much going on and needing done! – I’m also back on the blog, with much catching up to do …………..