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It has been summer of extremes for almost three months here in East Anglia . High pressure has dominated for weeks and weeks on end with very little wind and daytime temperatures running at 3.1ºC above average with consistently high readings well above the seasonal norm. Night time temperatures have also been at record breaking levels throughout the summer months. The officially declared drought has left wildlife facing critical shortages of water, shelter, and accessible food. With all of that in mind I've been out to various Fenland sites over the summer months to see for myself. There is water in the ditches and dykes, but the skies have been relatively empty of swifts, swallows and martins. Flowering plants have been showing stress and the landscape has been eerily quiet; and birdsong has seemed more subdued. However, dragonflies appear to have had a good year!
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