Nature Notes September

The weather during September continued to be mild and dry, with just a few damp days. A definite Autumnal feel on the Reserve with leaves already turning colour and, in some cases, falling.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:  Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers,  Black-headed Gulls, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Robin. Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Swallows, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff.
Mammals:  Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Fox.
Butterflies/Moths: Large White, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral.
Insects/Pond Life: Pond Skaters.  Reptiles:  Common Lizard.
Plants in flower:  Low growing Gorse, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.

Blackberry bushes supplied a heavy crop of berries this September, food for small mammals and foxes. Rowan trees were heavily laden with berries, providing much needed food for resident and migrant birds before departure. The warm damp weather at the end of the month will promote the growth of fungi early next month. Summer visiting birds departed by the end of the month, with only a few Swallows being seen flying over the Reserve.

Nature Fact

Weather conditions can play a big part in the timing of the birds’ departure south on migration. While the birds may be physically ready to leave, they need to use the best weather conditions for migration so may stay put if the weather is bad. Swallows may stay on well into October.