Nature Notes August

August was drier than previous summer months, with only a few wet days.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Jays, Carrion Crows, Buzzards, Heron, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Black-headed Gulls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaff, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Treecreeper, Nuthatches, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks.
Butterflies: Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Grayling, Meadow Brown.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Southern Hawker.
Mammals: Fox, Pipstrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Reptiles: Common Lizard, Slow Worm.
Insects: Pond Skaters, Bees.
Plants in Flower: Low Growing Gorse, Honeysuckle, Blackberry, Ling Heather, Bell Heather.
Garden Plants on site in flower: Buddleia, Crocosmia, Pond Lily.

Willow Warblers and Chiff Chaffs are now seen moving across the site in preparation for migration.

Heathers and low growing Gorse are now at their best.

Nature Fact

The Newt, a small Salamander, is remarkable for its ability to regrow body parts such as its organs, tissues, limbs and tail.

Nature Notes July

There was heavy rainfall until the middle of the month, followed by a week of high temperatures and sunny days. At the end of the month temperatures cooled off once more, with a mix of sun, cloud and occasional heavy showers.

SIGHTINGS
Birds: Buzzards, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Jays, Black-headed Gulls, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Heron,Tree Pipit, Stonechat, Siskins, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Nuthatches Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs.
Reptiles: Slow Worms, Common Lizards, Grass Snake.
Mammals: Wood Mice, Pipistrelle Bats.
Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Silver Studded Blue, Comma, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper.
Insects: Hover Flies, Pond Skaters, Bees, Ants.
Plants in flower: Low growing Gorse, Cut-leaved Geranium, Heather/Ling – Cross leaved and Bell.

Many species of birds have been observed to be in moult during July.

Nature Fact

How do birds moult? A new feather growing from a follicle in the skin gradually pushes out the old one. This usually follows a regular sequence within each feather group. Most birds choose a time of year to moult, when there is plenty of food, dense foliage to hide and no need to use up valuable energy in courtship or migration.