Home

The
Brook

Whats
On

Latest
Sightings

Conservation

Archive

Wildlife

History

Maps

Links

Contact
Us

Latest Sightings July 2012

Click on the link to send in your sightings [email-masked]

For previous months sightings see Archive

The "Area Seen" refers to the 10
sections that the Brook has been split into for monitoring purposes (see
Wildlife page under Monitoring ). .

All sightings unless stated are from personal observations by Eddie Napper

Birds

Click on any picture to see a larger image

29/07/12 In Area 5, Raptors were in evidence
with Sparrowhawk, Red Kite & Buzzards on
the wing. In Area 7 during the Balsam pulling a juvenille Moorhen was seen swimming up the Emm.

27/07/12 More today from Paul Bright Thomas
with a Hobby, Swift & Bullfinch seen over
Area 4.

26/07/12 A Hobby
was seen flying over Area 4 today by Paul Bright Thomas.

23/07/12 A Whitethroat
were calling from on top of a bush in Area 8 adjacent to Toutley
Road Bridge this morning.

21/07/12 The sun was out today and there is
a promise of a warm week ahead. A pair of Bullfinch's were seen drinking at the pond. Singing
male Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs were still
looking for a mate. A solitary Grey Heron was
calling noisly whilst flying over Area 5 by Morrisons.

18/07/12 The young Starlings are still rapidly devouring the fat balls
at the feeders in Area 5. Area 2 was quite quiet on my walk this
evening. The only thing of note was 6 Swifts
feeding over Tesco's.

15/07/12 Birds of Prey in the shape of Buzzard and Red Kite
were soaring over Area 5 this morning.

12/07/12 A solitary Goldcrest was picking insects off a garden
Leylandii. A Blackbird was feeding young at
the feeders in the early morning sunshine and Swifts
were seen flying over Morissons in Area 5. A Pied Wagtail was by the Brook by Lidl in Area 3.

11/07/12 A Cormorrant
flying west this morning over Area 5 was today's excitement.

08/07/12 July is usually a quite month for
Birds and this year would appear to be no different. A Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Grey Heron both flying SE over Area

07/07/12 The breeding season is still going
strong with a new batch of noisy Starlings at
my feeders this morning. Also seen were juvenille Robin & Coal Tit . A male Bullfinch paid a brief visit to my Sunflower Heart
feeder. Down by the river male Blackcap &
Chiffchaff are still singing to try and find a mate.

06/07/12 In Area 4 in the Brook near Meadow
Road Bridge a Grey Heron was feeding before
flying off calling loudly. It landed on a nearby house roof. and was
immediately mobbed by 2 Magpie's

01/07/12 A reasonable day in Area's 4 &
5 with 29 species of birds seen and heard. These were Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Song Thrush,
Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Mallard, Swift, Dunnock,
Herring Gull, Starling, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap,
Great spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Collared Dove,Wren
& Jay on the brook near Ripplestream Bridge were Moorhen & Grey Heron and in the afternoon Red Kite & Buzzard were on the wing.

Insects/ Spiders

Click on any picture to see a larger image

30/07/12 In a walk through the meadows of
Area 2 this evening Meadow Grasshopers were
very much in evidence. Butterflies included Meadow
Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper & Large White

23/07/12 Despite the recent weather todays
Marbled White in Area 8 adjacent to Toutley
Road Bridge was the 16 species of butterfly seen this year alongside the
Emm.

15/07/12 Resting on a Sloe Bush this
female Common Darter Dragonfly was seen in
Area 5 . Beautiful Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle
& Common Blue Damselfly were also seen. Butterflies seen
included Ringlet, Comma, Common Blue & Large
White

13/07/12 As we seem to be in a cycle of
sunny mornings and wet afternoons it pays to get out and about early as
the sun lures out the insects. 2 Comma's and
a Ringlet were sunning themselves on Brambles
by Dragonfly Bridge. A Speckled Bush Cricket
and a Swollen-thighed Beetle Oedemera
nobilis were also seen

12/07/12 A first for the FOTEB Micro Moth
list a Cherry bark Tortrix was in Area 5.

07/07/12 Thankfully not all Butterflies
need a warm sunny day to fly. The Meadow Brown &
Ringlet can perform in dull or drizzly weather. Both of these
were seen in Area 5 this morning in the grass by the Acorn Centre.

01/07/12 With some sun today Damselflies
could be seen flying in Area 5 between Ripplestream Bridge and the
Woosehill Roundabout these included Beautiful
Demoiselle, Banded Demoiselle & Common Blue Damselfly . Only
2 species of Butterflly were seen Red Admiral &
Meadow Brown. Other highlights included a Snipe Fly Rhagio scolopaceus and a yellow and black
beetle Strangalia maculara

Plants/Trees

15/07/12 Sloes
the fruits of Blackthorn are now
starting to appear in the hedgerows along the Brook.

01/07/12 Today was Himalayan Balsam pulling day near Woosehill
roundabout. It is hoped that this activity will allow the native species
to flourish. One of my favourites Meadow Sweet
can be seen in this area.

Other Wildlife

Click on any picture to see a larger image

Fish

01/07/12 In Area 5 at the weir pool near
Woosehill roundabout a small Perch was caught
today

Molluscs

07/07/12 With no end in sight to the wet
weather the slugs & snails are having a great time on the riverside
vegetation. The common ones are Amber Snail
Succinea putris , White lipped Snail
Cepaea hortensis & Dusky Slug
Arion subfuscus

Fungi

Mammals

30/07/12 A male Roe Deer
was seen in Area 2 to the rear of Tesco's this evening.

13/07/12 A Grey Squirell
has become a regular visitor to my Area 5 garden feeders this
month.

Reptiles & Amphibians

17/07/12 Another first for me today. Walking
along the public footpaths in Area 2 to the rear of Tesco's after work 2
seperate Grass Snakes were seen slithering
across the path. Unfortunately too quick for a photo.

12/0712 A Common Frog
was seen in the vegetation by the Brook. .