Wildlife in July

By July many of the warblers which arrived in the spring are raising their second broods while ungainly black-headed gull chicks are all over coastal marshes. This is also a fine time for watching butterflies. On some heaths clouds of tiny male silver-studded blues are flying low over bare patches among the heather; in coastal sand dunes dark green fritillaries are active around flowering privet bushes; and in woods white admirals are darting through sunny glades while tiny purple hairstreaks flash around the oak canopy.

Saltmarsh sea lavenders are coming into flower now, turning huge stretches of the North Norfolk coast a delicate purple. Meanwhile in freshwater marshes, the second wave of dragonflies is reaching its peak. Look now for common and ruddy darters, southern and brown hawkers, and common blue damselflies.