Nature Fact

Most vertebrate animals possess a pair of hyoid bones supporting the base of the tongue. Green Woodpeckers have extended hyoids that curve up behind the head. Muscles pull on the hyoids, giving a powerful thrust to the very long tongue. This enables it to reach distances into holes in the ground and trees to reach its prey.

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.