As June began to close its doors, a skyward glance from my back garden saw mackerel skies forming overhead, suggesting a change in the weather.

Unlike some of the unusual cloud formations seen in recent times, these cirrus clouds appear almost exclusively some way ahead of a warm front and was a reliable forecast that the weather was once again about to change.

Mackerel sky clouds.

In folklore and in the times of tall sailing ships it was said: “Mackerel scales and mares’ tails make tall ships carry low sails.” This referring to stormy weather being on its way. These days of course we can use weather apps to predict such events.

As we moved into July, and as expected, temperatures cooled a little as the Jet Stream slipped south of the British Isles driving low pressure systems across the UK.

Thus repeating the familiar theme of “wet weeks in fortnights” in my reports this year, and seeing over the average month’s precipitation in just the first nine days of July.

A few brief lulls in the rainfall did bring some dry and rare sunny spells, enough to get out and about with my camera in the hope of a few photos.

Green-eyed flower bee, Whitmoor Common.

On July 2 I visited my local heathland, Whitmoor Common. Here I noticed a few green-eyed flower bees had begun to emerge. Although a little later than last year they are, strangely perhaps, rather a favourite of mine.

Juvenile robin, Whitmoor Common.

A juvenile robin also added to my day’s sightings.

Dartford warbler, Whitmoor Common.

While Dartford warblers, linnets and silver-studded blue butterflies, as seen in my previous report, continued to be seen.

Kestrel in flight, Whitmoor Common.

A kestrel could be viewed hovering over the heathland.

Treecreeper, Whitmoor Common.

As well as seeing several treecreepers present near the car park.

Small skipper, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

A visit to Clandon Wood Burial Ground on July 4 added a few small skipper butterflies to my year’s list.

Large skipper butterfly.

With a few large skippers also present.

Ringlet butterfly showing upper wings.

Also adding a ringlet butterfly with wings open.

Robber fly, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

And a robber fly.

Marbled white butterfly, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

As usual at this time of year, the meadows were resplendent with wild flowers. However, in a sporadic stiff breeze and mostly overcast skies, there appear to be fewer butterflies on display than I recall in previous years. Marbled whites being the most prominent.

Small tortoiseshell, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

To my delight I was able to add a small tortoiseshell butterfly, increasing this year’s sightings from just two last year to a handful so far this year. It is a species that appears to have greatly declined in Surrey.

Juvenile kestrels, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

With the juvenile kestrels having now fledged their nest box, three could be viewed perched up in a dead tree just beyond the grounds.

Common buzzard, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

A common buzzard flew low across the fields.

Red kite, Clandon Wood Burial Ground.

And several red kites could be regularly seen overhead.

Goldfinch.

And a flock of 30 or more goldfinches flew about the reserve.

Another partially dry although overcast day on July 8 allowed the opportunity of a visit to RSPB Pagham Harbour, in West Sussex, in the company of Dougal. This in the hope of seeing and photographing a few species of birds not regularly seen within the Surrey countryside.

Gatekeeper at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

A surprise sighting on our arrival was not of the bird kind, but several gatekeeper butterflies that had just begun to emerge. No doubt some soon to be seen locally to home.

Black-tailed godwits at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

At the Sidlesham Ferry Pool a small pantheon of black-tailed godwits could viewed in their summer plumage of brick-orange heads, necks and chests.

Spotted redshank at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Two spotted redshanks were also present, now showing signs of losing their summer plumage of pure black, save for some white spotting on the wings.

Cattle egret at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

At least 17 cattle egrets were present, the adults still in their summer plumes of bright orange feathers on their crown and chests, with a few juveniles within the group.

Little egret at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Also adding to the day’s sighting was a little egret out on the pool.

Common sandpiper at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

As well as a common sandpiper.

Little ringed plovers at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

At least three little ringed plovers.

Lapwing.

A few lapwings.

Avocet, Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

A lone avocet.

Shelducks at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

And a family of shelducks.

Common buzzard at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

While a common buzzard also passed through.

Probably the most rewarding views for me, although unfortunately not for the victim, was while looking across the water to see a water shrew, only the second I have ever observed!

Water shrew on Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

It had been dropped into the pool by a passing cattle egret and could be seen swimming in small circles. Although picking out its dark-silky back and white underside through the telescope, it proved a challenge to photograph from such a distance.

A black-headed gull catches the water shrew on Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Most probably already injured in its encounter with the egret, within no more than five minutes it was dispatched by a black-headed gull.

Greenshank at Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

Meanwhile, in the nearby long-pool a greenshank could be viewed.

Grey heron, Sidlesham Ferry Pool.

And a grey heron was also present.

Just a little further down the road at Church Norton I was also able to add to my day’s photos:

Med gulls, Church Norton.

Mediterranean gulls.

Sandwich terns, Church Norton.

Sandwich terns.

Oystercatcher, Church Norton.

And oystercatchers.

Gatekeeper butterfly making an annual appearance on my forsythia hedge.

On July 11 I had my annual visit of a lone gatekeeper butterfly on my garden forsythia hedge.

Greylag and Canada geese, at Britten’s Pond.

A visit to Britten’s Pond later the same day saw the usual gathering of both adult and rapidly growing young Canada and greylag geese.

Holly blue butterfly.

I also saw my first of the second brood of holly blue butterflies that had begun to emerge.

A variety of both young and adult birds could be viewed feeding about the bramble area close to the car park.

Chiffchaff, Britten’s Pond.

These including chiffchaffs.

Dunnock preening its feathers.

Dunnocks preening during a brief few moments of sunshine.

Wren.

A wren, in song.

Young great tit.

And great tits.

Comma butterfly.

Settling within the bramble area was a comma butterfly.

Red admiral butterfly.

And a red admiral butterfly. These both having been few and far between for me so far this year.

Purple hairstreak butterfly, Britten’s Pond.

High up in the surrounding oaks about the car park, and to the keen eyed, a handful or more  purple hairstreak butterflies continued to be viewed, dog-fighting high in the canopies, and occasionally settling low enough for the reach of my camera lens.