Butterflies, rather than birds, have been noticeable around the village during the long summer heatwave. After seeing hardly any butterflies in our garden up until about the middle of June, there have been a huge variety of species seen including some unusual ones such as marbled white, small copper and even a single purple hairstreak.

Many of the birds visiting our feeders have been young ones including great spotted woodpecker and also a young siskin being fed by its parents.

Other bird highlights have included red kites regularly flying over the village, a firecrest in Badby Woods and a spotted flycatcher around a neighbour’s bird feeders.

RP