With it having been mostly warm and dry, in late May temperatures soared with a maximum of 33 degrees. June was even hotter with a peak of 36 degrees late in the month.

All this has led to a great year for insects. Record numbers of holly blue were recorded on the butterfly transect along with many painted lady, and moth trapping recorded some exceptionally high counts. A dark-green fritillary was seen in Lower Inhams meadow on 30th June, not seen on the reserve for a number of years. A first ever large tortoiseshell was seen on 19th April, among numerous reports across southern counties, it is thought this species is establishing itself as a breeding species. 

Another first for the site was a ringed border moth again establishing itself as a breeding colonist, only the second record for North Hampshire. The warm weather also led to two broad-bordered bee hawk-moth seen on the transect in the 3rd week of May

Other interesting records included 3 oak snakefly (one in the moth trap), a rarely seen species here and two male stag beetle flying around the tree tops seen while looking for nightjars (also successful). 

We have been using a trail camera where a tree has fallen across one of the streams, where we found otter spraints. No otters appeared but we were thrilled when several polecats were found to be using the crossing point and a family of foxes too.

The records of grass snakes have been increasing indicating good breeding success, this was confirmed when a young snake was found under a tin, this was one of last years young as it was only around 20cm long.

On one bird ringing session a kingfisher was caught, this was one of this years young, during processing a lucky walker happened by, and as we were about to release it, we asked if would like to do this, so we passed it over and it stayed on her hand for a short while before flying off, she said this had made her day!

The hot weather has not been so great for our volunteers, we have had to cancel several days that were too hot. Work since April has concentrated on checking and repairing all the deer fences and the stock fence. After this, work moved on to bracken control, at first using sticks and later on when the bracken had hardened switching to scythes.