Nature Notes July 2018

Date Published: 31-07-2018

July continued to be extremely dry and hot, following the June trend. These
conditions caused parched ground , with foliage drying out on trees, plants and
grasses. A day or two at the end of the month, with strong winds and heavy rain, gave
some respite.
SIGHTINGS
Birds: Carrion Crow, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Common
Gulls, Tawny Owls, Sparrowhawk, Green/Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wood Pigeons,
Stock Doves, Collared Doves, Nuthatches, Tree Creepers, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds,
Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrush, Dunnocks, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches,
Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Siskins, Coal/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits, Stonechat,
Nightjar, Tree Pipit.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Fox, Roe Deer, Pipistrelle Bats, Hedgehog.
Insects/Spiders: Wood Lice, Midges, Buff-tailed Bees, Hover Flies, Solitary Bees,
Flying Ants, Ants, Bumble Bees, Raft Spiders.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Adder, Grass Snake, Common Lizard.
Butterflies/Moths: Species of day flying Moths, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Large
White, Small White, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock, Painted Lady, Silver-studded
Blue, Comma, Small Copper, Grayling, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper,
Ringlet, Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar.
Dragonfly/Damselfly: Small Red, Small Blue, Broad Bodied Chaser, Emperor.
Plants in Flower: Blackberry fruits forming, Crocosmia, Cotton Grass.
Pond Life: Whirlygig Beetles, Pond Skaters, Common Newts, Backswimmers.
The Nightjar ceased calling mid-month.
The majority of birds finished breeding during the month, seen feeding young on the
ground.
Recorder: C Wilcox
NATURE FACT
The Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae) is seen in open habitats, mainly on sandy and
other well-drained soils. Largely nocturnal but often seen fluttering weakly by day.
SITE MANAGEMENT
The work party replaced a rotten direction post at the West Moors Road entrance
and cut back encroaching vegetation on paths and the boardwalk. The next work party
is scheduled for 28th August commencing 10am.