Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Heading north west, back into Shillingstone, after a 'summer evening cycle ride', along The North Dorset Trailway. Before it was closed in the 1960's the Somerset and Dorset Railway (S & D), was sometimes referred to as the 'Slow & Dirty'. Despite this, the actual geographical location of the North Dorset Stour Valley section, made it one of the most picturesque railway lines in the South West of England. Since its' 'rebirth' as a trailway, open to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, its' sympathetic and ongoing development, with regard for the surrounding environment and wildlife, has made this all too evident. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
As summer slips into autumn the activities of the garden spiders become accentuated by the heavy morning dew. Although it would seem that some spiders are not too bothered about isometrics. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
The Stour Valley in the late evening sun. The iron age earthworks here on Hambledon Hill are more pronounced than those on Hod Hill further down the valley. Both forts played an important roll in the Roman occupation of Ancient Britain. 
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Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Flight re-fueling, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding from a Salvia plant in a sunny part of the garden.
Hummingbird Hawk Moths beat their wings at such speed they emit an audible hum. Their name is further derived from their similar feeding patterns to Hummingbirds. They're found in Britain all summer long, especially in southern counties such as Dorset. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Fading light over Shillingstone. A view from The North Dorset Trailway to the south east of the village. The old original concrete posts still mark the boundary, of what used to be the Somerset and Dorset Railway line. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Sometimes when a Thatcher completes a roof he will fashion a straw pheasant and place it on the ridge. No need in this case, the red tiles compliment this cock pheasant enjoying the evening sun on the barn roof at Cookwell, Shillingstone. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
This Speckled Bush Cricket kept a close eye on me while I photographed it. It's one of many species of crickets and Grasshoppers to be found on the vegetation, along the banks of Cookwell Brook and the River Stour. Image cannot be loaded
September Evening,
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
As the solar-powered garden lamps flicker into life in the fading light, the first swallow returning to the loft, triggers the security light. Cookwell Shillingstone. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
It's hard to imagine that approximately eight weeks after this picture was taken, this newly-fledged Swallow chick will make it's way across the English Channel, through France, Portugal and Spain into Africa. Hopefully, like it's parents have done it will return to Cookwell, Shillingstone next summer, to raise a family of it's own. Truly one of nature's little heroes. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
While I was cleaning up the loft above the garage, after the swallows had gone, I noticed this Brown Long-eared Bat.
Plecotus Auritus:- Brown long-eared bats appear to select roosting sites according to the houses available. Preferences for older buildings with partitioned roofs which are within 0.5 km of woodland and water have been recorded. Brown long-eared bats also exhibit a preference for warmer houses for summer roost sites. Obviously Cookwell must tick all of those boxes, although this is the first time to my knowledge, there has been one in here.
Maybe the swallows have gone into the 'sub-letting' business? Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Leptophyes punctatissima
The speckled bush-cricket is found in large numbers along the Stour Valley during the summer months. It's unusual for one to perch on your finger long enough to be photographed. They can jump many times their own length and usually do so to avoid capture. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Evening sunlight next to Cookwell Brook. Cookwell is a small area of the village of Shillingstone, which takes it's name from the brook which flows through the northern end of village before entering the River Stour. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
One of the Otter survey sites on the Shillingstone stretch of the River Stour. These are monitored by The Dorset Otter Group, which is part of The Dorset Wildlife Trust. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Two 'late' swallow chicks prepare to embark on their long journey south accompanied by a lone adult bird, which appeared to stay behind to look after them. On a dry day, with a north west tail wind they were gone. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
A farewell supper. The swallows feeding on swarms of Thunder Flies in the wake of a receding storm before departing for the coast the following morning. Two chicks were left in the nest in the barn, but they were attended to and fed by a lone adult. A few days later they too departed.
Hopefully they will join the accumulation of birds along the Dorset coast, waiting for favourable weather conditions in order to cross the channel. Then on through France and Spain to Africa.
In the meantime I'll clean up the loft, and make sure the nest remains intact, hopefully for their return next summer. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Burton Community Orchard, Shilligstone. An orchard and wildflower meadow involving the whole village in maintaining an open space, including opportunities for volunteering to learn new skills such as hedge laying and pruning. The local school is also involved in the maintenance of the orchard. The orchard was also part of an archealogical survey, on the site of a Roman Villa. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
The debris in the right foreground are empty fresh water muscle shells. These, together with spraints and footprints are proof of otter activity. The otters are sometimes seen by day but are mainly nocturnal. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Leptophyes punctatissima
The speckled bush-cricket is a species of bush-cricket common in well vegetated areas
The eggs are laid in late summer into tree bark or plant stems where they remain over winter. The nymphs emerge in May and June and mature as adult speckled bush crickets by mid August. The hollow Hog Weed Stems on the river bank seem to provide an ideal breeding habitat. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer, Shillingstone.
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Dorset seems to have developed it's own monsoon season. After a warm sunny afternoon, here comes another evening downpour. Shillingstone, July 2012. Image cannot be loaded
Stour Valley Summer
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
Homeward bound at Cookwell Shillingstone. It's on occasions such as this, that I often wonder if the birds returning to the rookery for the night, are aware of their dramatic surroundings? Image cannot be loaded
A Slideshow of Stour Valley Summer
