Yes, clearing the rambling brambles today I also found some ripe ones - funnily enough around the same time as last year. The association of blackberries with mellow autumn days (that I had from my childhood) is sadly long gone now.

(The grass started to set seed in April, FWIW, which I found to be very early.)

Global Birdfair 2026

https://globalbirdfair.org/ 

And lots of them.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/small-copper 

https://www.first-nature.com/insects/lb-lycaena-phlaeas.php 

Bit more info:

Butterfly Conservation writes:

"In the UK, Small Copper butterflies overwinter as caterpillars (larvae). The late-summer generation of caterpillars halts their development and goes into a dormant state near the base of their foodplants -primarily Common Sorrel or Sheep's Sorrel. When temperatures rise in the spring, they resume feeding, pupate, and emerge as adults."

Naturespot says: "The Small Copper is a multi-brooded species, meaning they have two or three (and sometimes four in particularly hot years) overlapping generations on the wing between April and October. It is the caterpillars from the final brood of the year that stay put in the undergrowth during the cold winter months."

Butterfly Conservation also says:

"If you want to support Small Copper butterflies in your area: Leave areas of short turf and long grass unmanaged to preserve their sorrel foodplants. Avoid using chemical herbicides that could destroy their larval food source. Consider leaving an area of bare ground so adult males have sunny basking spots in the summer."

We propose to leave some strips of uncut Sorrel plants over the winter. 😉

1 small blue

1 red admiral

1 peacock

2 painted ladies

3 large white

5 gatekeepers

Funnily enough the butterfly that is always present in the garden every year (apart from large white) the speckled wood, was conspicuous by its absence on this particular little observation. 

https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2026/0716/1583701-emerald-ash-borer-beetle/ 

I am a little surprised at how slowly Calara has been progressing. While it has badly affected some Ash, the majority seem to be doing ok and many seem unaffected(at least near me). But if the Emerald Ash Borer reaches us, Calara may seem mild by comparison. I'm not sure what the EU emergency plan is but the Yanks haven't managed to stop it - here's what it's done in the US:

https://treefluent.com/how-many-trees-have-been-killed-by-emerald-ash-borer/ 

In some places, it kills 99% of Ash trees. That said, our Ash trees seem to be more resistant than the American Ash trees so we'll have to see how badly ours are affected. And perhaps we can hope that the seas around us could give us protection. 

Thought this yesterday, huge increase in butterfly numbers. Saw loads of Cabbage Whites yesterday around my garden and when walking the dog. I reckon the Swifts have had a good season too.

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/watch-wildlife-online/loch-of-the-lowes-webcam/ 

Wasps galore this year. 

Local wasps? I haven't seen any, either in town or country

Not seen any wasps so far this season. My garden hedgehog has disappeared too, haven't seen him/her for about a month. 

https://www.ecoportal.net/en/divers-went-check-offshore-wind-turbines/29373/ 

Divers went down to check on 69 offshore wind turbines off the coast of Taiwan, and the 86 species they found living in the steel had never been recorded there before

AI-altered images on birdwatching forums putting research at risk