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18 August

Despite sunny conditions & 22°C (12:15 PM), weak to strong winds and unusually cool early-morning temperatures even prompt trees to assume that autumn has begun. In a similar vein, the species composition resembles my September/early-October observations more than my previous August logs.

Some spots have been moved for the fourth time this year and already were wastelands before forcing me to walk through a dusty cloud. Just as unfortunately, less than 1/4 of "Mixed Field" currently remains, with roughly 20% not even providing any blossoms.

The very few blues remaining active at least get to appreciate a handful of horseshoe vetch, which are mostly deformed and unusually small. With weather predictions no longer forecasting a return of summer conditions (temperatures are expected to drop even further), I'll be switching to my afternoon observation routine which I only practice during autumn – two weeks earlier than usual. At this point I'm expecting this year's observation season to end in September.