Nature Fact

During the day the Common Field Grasshopper needs to warm up in the sunshine, basking until it can become active. The male chirps during the months of June and November to attract a female. This sound is achieved by rubbing pegs on his hind legs against large veins on his forewing, a process called stridulating.

Nature Notes June

June was mostly cool and windy, with a few very warm days.

SIGHTINGS 
Birds:   Buzzards, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Magpies, Tawny Owl, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nightjar, Siskins, Tree Pipits, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Song Thrushes, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Nuthatch, Dunnocks, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Mammals:   Wood Mice, Grey Squirrels, Pipistrelle Bats, Roe Deer, Moles.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red,  Common Blue, Broad Bodied.
Pond Life/Insects:   Species of Bee, Species of Fly, Green Tiger Beetle, Water Boatman, Pond Skaters, Minnow, Raft Spider.
Moths/Butterflies:   Brimstone, Holly Blue, Large/Small Whites, Silver-studded Blue, Peacock, Small Skipper, Species of day flying Moths.
Reptiles/Amphibians:   Common Lizard, Slow Worm.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Cotton Grass, Ling, Bell Heather, Bog Asphodel.

A Nightjar was heard on the central heath at dusk on most evenings.
Tree Pipits were seen parachuting to ground from Pine treetops.
A small number of Silver-studded Blue Butterflies were seen in the last week of the month.

Nature Fact

The Green Tiger Beetle has elytra and thorax which may vary from light to dark green and the pattern also varies. This sun-loving beetle flies rapidly with a loud buzzing sound and is seen from May through to the end of August. It frequents sandy places, such as clear paths, where the larvae dig burrows and ambush ants and other crawling insects.

Nature Notes May

May delivered a mixture of weather, mostly cool, wet and windy, with a few days of warm sunshine in contrast.

SIGHTINGS
Birds:   Sparrowhawk, Jackdaws, Heron, Common/Black-headed Gulls, Carrion Crows, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nightjar, Tree Pipits, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens, Goldcrests, Song Thrushes, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Blackcaps, Siskins, Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Nuthatches, Tree Creeper, Dunnocks, Wood Pigeon, Stock Doves.
Mammals:   Wood Mice, Roe Deer, Fox, Pipistrelle Bats, Grey Squirrels.
Dragonfly/Damselfly:   Small Red, Broad Bodied Chaser.
Insects:   Bees, Pond Skaters,  Water Boatman.
Butterflies/Moths:   Large White, Small White, Holly Blue, Brimstone, Orange Tip, Peacock, several species of day flying Moth.
Plants in flower:   Common Gorse, Common Broom, Cotton Grass, Willow Catkins.
Reptiles/Amphibians:   Adder, Grass Snake, Slow Worm, Common Lizard, Common Newts.

A Nightjar was heard on the open heath at the end of the month.
Many bird species have produced young.
Tree Pipits were seen and heard during the month.