Key:
WW = West Wales
Lwn = Llanwnnen
AG = Aldermans Green, Coventry
CL = Church Lawford
ROW = Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
CC = Capel Curig, Snowdonia
MH = Milford Haven
Mids = Midlands
CITE = Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire
COL = Climatological Observers Link
PWS = Personal weather station
Poor start to the month particularly for WW where it was often cool and dull with spells of rain:
Fri 3rd very cool Wales, here at Lwn max 14.6c not until late evening, the coolest July day since 06/07/2012 (max 13.7c)
Tue 7th cloudy with rain at times, very cool max Aberdaron 13.1c, Aberporth 13.9c, Lwn 14.9c, Pershore 17.5c, Wellesbourne 17.6c, Pembrey & Watnall 15.5c; Gogerddan 21.6mm wettest in UK
Wed 8th rather cool and wet for many, an inch of rain fell over parts of WW
Mean max temperature here at Lwn to 10th just 17.3c and represents the coolest July spell recorded here..maxima- wise a very cool early July almost nationwide (SW MIdlands not so poor); 1st-11th July mean max Capel Curig 14.9c, Aberporth 15.5c, Nottingham 17.0c, Pembrey Sands 17.2c, CL 18.3c, Hereford 19.6c,
Fine interlude at last Fri 10th to Sun 12th
Sun 12th one of the coolest July nights recorded here, min 1.6c, the lowest here being +0.7c in July 2015. Tirabad had min 1.3c, Shobdon 2.8c; maxima in low-mid 20's c for many with sunny periods although WW clouded over, max Hereford 23.2c, Coventry 22.3c, Sutton Bonington 22.1c, Lwn 22.0c, Aberdaron 15.9c
Briefly rather warm and humid just after mid month:
Fri 17th warm and humid with sunny spells, Pershore 25.4c, Coventry 24.6c, CITE 24.0c, Shawbury 22.0c, Lwn & Trawsgoed 20.2c, CC 16.0c
Sat 18th warm sticky night for many, minima above 15c in places, Nottingham 15.7c, Mumbles 15.3c, Coventry & Trawsgoed 15.2c, Aberdaron & Lwn 13.9c, slow- moving cold front brought rain and drizzle and cooler conditions during the day...well over an inch of rain for parts of NW Wales..
Changeable after short fine spell towards month end:
Mon 20th low overnight temps for rural areas, a touch of air frost at a Powys frost hollow (min -0.1c St Harmon). other Lwn 2.2c, Tirabad 2.3c, Shobdon 2.8c, Mona 4.4c, Coventry 9.1c, Mumbles 10.0c
Tue 21st another cold July night widely, min St Harmon, Powys 0.0c, Lwn 2.1c, Tirabd 2.2c, Shobdon 2.7c, Pembrey Sands 4.3c, CL 4.8c, Watnall 8.7c, Mumbles 11.2c
Sat 25th thundery showers, we were away but nearby lightning sferics late afternoon suggested there was thunder at Lwn; thunder also heard by my wife in Coventry early evening
Return of Summer briefly month end:
Thu 30th warm/ very warm with sunny periods, max Pershore 28.0c, Coventry 27.5c, Trawsgoed 26.1c, Lwn 25.8c, Aberdaron 19.7c (highest of July to date here)
Fri 31st exceptionally hot much of the Midlands very warm much of west Wales..max 35.2c Coventry equalling the offficial highest ever recorded in the city in July 2019 with also Aug 1990 (Bablake School 35.1c, Walsgrave 35.6c)...other max Heathrow 37.8c, Wellesbourne, Warks 36.2c, CL 34.9c, Coleshill & Pershore 34.8c, Shobdon 30.7c, Trawsgoed 28.1c, Lwn 26.9c, Aberdaron & MH 21.3c; thunder for parts of Midlands late afternoon into evening..thunder heard from Coventry & Rugby around 1800 but little rain in these places..
Nature notes
Wed 1st Longwood plenty of Chiffchaff, in fact little else to be heard besides the almost ever-present chiff-chaffing! Goshawk briefly seen.
Hardly a Swift to be seen this first week in July, saw a single bird at Llanybydder 4th, chicks calling from one of the nests only in the church hall here a few nights ago, none at Lampeter yesterday nor last week. Most unusual for early July when activity is often high, however it has been a notably cool and cloudy start to the month, mean max just 17c here so far is unprecedented for July. Reports of record southward Swift passage along the east coast last few days of June, they reckon these would be non- breeders returning south. Hopefully the adults around here have not joined them and are not deserting their chicks!
Early/ mid month Jay seen feeding on few remaining Holly berries (Blackbirds also do this); family of Jay frequently on the bird feeders...
Fri 10th improvement in the weather, a dozen H Martin and Swallow this evening, then about half dozen Swift around the hall, limited screaming but great to see them back and also that chicks were audible from at least 3 of their nests..
Sat 11th 8- 10 screaming Swift over the churchyard at dusk!
Most birdsong ended with the very poor weather of late, just the odd Song Thrush still at it but half-heartedly, no more dawn chorus..
Sun 12th Swifts and Sparrows observed going in and out of small holes in the stonework of the former railway station at Llanybydder, not at roofline but below in holes at around 2 feet below it; about 10 Swift scrreaming at Rhydybont chapel this evening, along with plenty of House Martin (that also nest on the building) and some Swallows, an enjoyable 15 minutes; Llwyndrissi foresty Nighjars kept us waiting until 2148 when one flew over calling, eventually good view of a pair in flight within 100m after churring for a minute. Another then heard churring as walked back down the lane to the car about 400m from the main road (as heard back in June).
Mid month a good crop of Raspberries that grow in our garden hedges..
Wed 15th c 25 Swift and much screaming parties above Lampeter Uni at dusk, flying up to nest holes, even mastered one with a moveable scaffold rig within 3 feet of it (they move this from window to window to paint them after the woodwork renovations that are ongoing so its not usually in the same place more than a few days and does not reach roofline). They are still working on the roof too, looks like it will take several more months, hopefully all done by next Spring!
Fri 17th 12-15 excited, screaming swift over the churchyard this evening; there is a nest within the corner of the church (chicks heard, a few droppings beneath and adult entry observed), first noticed this being used a couple of years ago...
Sat 18th Plenty of Swifts this evening driving to Midlands, at Crickhowell (15- 20) and Abergavenny (10-15); at former entry observed by a Swift into one of the terraced houses just past Indian (and just before where one previously observed making entry into the building with tall pointed apex)
Sun 19th few birds in song along the canal at Hawkesbury, Coventry this evening, Song Thrush, Blackcap and Blackbird (have hardly heard any song this month).
Mon 20th c 6 Swift afternoon Long Lawford, they seem to have a colony in soffits of Elizabeth Way (gaps where drainpipes make entry); c 15 Swift AG dusk.
Tue 21st Swifts, Bedworth late afternoon 4 - 6 western edge of Miner's Welfare Park; Bulkington 6 - 8 near church what appeared to be a screaming party as we drove past early evening.
Fri 24th Swifts, 12- 15 AG early afternoon; 25- 30 Long lawford from Mum and Dads evening
Wed 29th plentiful Swallow, House Martin above the village today, with 25- 30 Swallow feeding over adjacent fields and gardens; 12- 15 Swift screaming around Fish & Anchor just half mile from church at dusk (seen them here quite a few times)
Thu 30th Llanybydder Swifts this evening: screaming pair over car park; several Swift and H Sparrow going in and out of Aberduar chapel; none seen Rhydybont chapel (only there 5 minutes as very warm in car)
Thu 30th forestry above Llanybydder dusk, no Nightjar so must have finished for this Summer; heard a 'Yaffle' in one the the new clear fells where also quite a few Jay; possible Snipe calling in near dark along the lane...
Fri 31st c 40 Swallow seen from window on wires next to adjacent over the road..
July 2020 weather summary
All areas had a rather cool and dull month; West Wales was generally rather wet, much of the Midlands around average rainfall, but the Marches were rather dry:
Rainfall totals July 2020
Valley 98.2mm (180%)
Mona 132.4mm
Aberdaron 93.6mm (167%)
Llanwnnen 111.7mm (110%)
Milford Haven 73.0mm
Watnall, Notts 68.4mm
Shawbury 34.8mm (65%)
Hereford 32.4mm (72%)
Pershore 40.0mm (80%)
Coleshill 53.6mm (109%)
Coventry, Bablake school 56.2mm (95%)
Church Lawford, Warks 49.2mm (82%)
PWS
Cosby, Leic 53.2mm (86%)
Ludlow, Salop 38.9mm
Warstock, Brum 62.0mm (97%)
Alvechurch, Worc 57.6mm (94%)
Daventry 55.1mm
Towcester, Northants 59.7mm (114%)
July 2020 sunshine:
Valley 128.1 hrs (73%)
Aberporth 163.2 hrs (86%)
Llanwnnen 119 hrs estimated (66%)
Watnall 137.8 hrs
Shawbury 118.3 hrs (72%)
Coventry 168.4 hrs (84%)
