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Latest Sightings September 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

30/09/12 For a change I decided to visit
Area 10 first thing this morning and was not dissapointed. I parked in
the Lavells Lake car park off Sandford Lane and immediately 5 Meadow Pipits flew over calling. 3 were later
perched on the fence to the rear of the field. Swallows & House Martins
were feeding and passing over S in steady waves. A Grey Wagtail was on the banks of the Emm by
Sandford Lane bridge. A Kestrel was perched
on the wires in the field with occasional inspections of the grass below
to check for breakfast. Black headed Gulls
& Mute Swans also flew over.
Feeding on the path adjacent to the Emm by the Black Swan Lake sailing
club were Pied Wagtails and 5 Egyptian Geese . It was a good day for Red Kite & Common Buzzard along the Emm today
with Kites seen in Area's 5,6,8&10 and Buzzards in Areas 5 & 8.
All in all not a bad way to end the month with a total of 35 species
seen in 3 hours this morning along the Emm Brook.

29/09/12 A beautiful sunny day in Area's 4
& 5 with good results. Highlights were a Kestrel
that was seen at 07:15,hovering behind Morrisons. Several Swallows were heading South. A Hobby was feeding high over Area 5 and a Cormorrant flew West. A solitary Ring necked Parakeet flew East calling. A Grey Wagtail was feeding on top of the weed on the
Emm by Ripple stream Bridge. Chiffchaffs were
still calling arond the balancing pond in Area 4. A total of 27 species
for the day.

26/09/12 In Area 10 in the Lavells Lake car
park field off Sandford Lane, the first Redwing
of the Autumn, and a Spotted Flycatcher
were seen by Fraser Cottington.

23/09/12 Before the rain this morning 6
Meadow Pipits , 4 Siskin
the first for the Autumn, and a Coal Tit
were in and around Paul Bright Thomas's Area 4 garden. A male
Blackcap , Chiffchaff's
and 2 Coal Tit were in the Balancing
Pond. 2 Mistle Thrush were again over Area 5
and 20+. Hirundines probably House Martins flew West.

22/09/12 The warm and sunny weather
continues. Calling Chiffchaff's around the
balancing pond in Area 4 by Smiths Walk seem reluctant to return to
Africa. A pair of what appears to be resident Grey
Wagtails were again feeding in the channel. Very high above Area
5 both Red Kite & Common Buzzard were
circling on the thermals. Later in the afternoon seen by Paul Bright
Thomas in Area 4, a female Kestrel was
circling to the N and a juvenille Marsh Harrier
was circling high to the South with a Buzzard. A total of 5 Common Buzzards were seen with 4 together high East
and 1 low East. Signs of Autumn are however starting to appear with
Jays visiting the Oak trees and flying out
with Acorns in their beaks.

21/09/12 A Kingfisher
was seen at 10:00 this morning flying over Ripple Stream Bridge
and heading downstream. Coming to garden feeders in Area 5 a Coal Tit was enjoying the Black Sunflower seeds.

20/09/12 35 House
Martins were seen flying SW over Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas .

18/09/12 It was a Wagtail day in Area 4
today for Paul Bright Thomas with Pied, Grey
and a Yellow Wagtail flying S. Swallows & Meadow Pipits were also seen. For
the third day running in Area 10 a juvenille Redstart was on the fence in the Lavells Lake car
park field off Sandford Lane nd seen by Richard Marsh and Trevor Guyatt
. This is possibly a different bird to yesterday. 2
Swallows were seen by M Terry and a Ring
necked Parakeet was seen by Fraser Cottington.

17/09/12 In Area 5 ,2 Cormorrant flew W early morning . In Area 4 an
adult Hobby flew S seen by Paul Bright Thomas
. In Area 10 again today a 1st winter male Redstart
was on the fence in the Lavells Lake car park field off Sandford
Lane and seen by Richard Marsh a Bullfinch
was also seen . Several Blackcaps were
seen by Fraser Cottington.

15/09/12 In Area's 4 & 5 today a total
of 28 birds were seen and heard these were from the Crow family Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie , Jay & Rook
,Finches were Greenfinch,Chaffinch , &
Greenfinch ThrushesRobin,Blackbird & Song
Thrush. The rest were made up of Wood Pigeon,
Stock Dove, Collared Dove,Great Tit , Blue Tit, Long tailed Tit, Herring
Gull, Starling, Chiffchaff, Great spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker,
Nuthatch, Wren, Dunnock, & Buzzard . In the Balancing pond in
Area 4 by Smiths Walk 3 Grey Wagtail were
feeding in the concrete channel. In Area 10 a juvenille Redstart was on the fence in the Lavells Lake car
park field off Sandford Lane and seen by Les Seward. This brings the
days total to 29 species.

14/09/12 Paul Bright Thomas was watching
Area 4 again today and reported a single Meadow
Pipits over and a tight flock of 40 House
Martins flying S. Meanwhile in Area 10, Alan Rymer had a Kestrel sitting on telephone wires in Lavells Lake
car park field off Sandford Lane. were seen noisely Area 5 had an
afternoon Red Kite being mobbed by 4 Jackdaw's.

13/09/12 In Area 10 an early morning visit
by Les Seward produced a female Marsh Harrier
flying along Sandford Lane. This is a first for the Foteb Bird
list.

12/09/12 In Area 4 early morning,Paul Bright
Thomas had 25 Rooks flying NE in several
waves and a total of 23 Meadow Pipits over in
several flocks. In Area 5 a tiding (apparently the collective noun ) of
14 Magpies were seen noisely gathering on a
roof in Arthur Road. In Area 9 (Winnersh) 2 Red Kite
and a solitary Buzzard were enjoying
the thermals over the M4. A single House Martin
was feeding over the fields and 4 Rooks
were also seen.

11/09/12 In Area 5 the early morning sun was
bathing the Willows which must have woken up any Insects. Feeding and
probably enjoying the sun were a Tit Flock of Blue
Tit, Great Tit & Long tailed Tit's. Finches consisted of 10
Goldfinches and 3 Greenfinches. For good measure also seen were a
pair of Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. Not bad for just one tree.

09/09/12 Not a lot to report today.
Highlight was 4 Cormorrants flying W over
Area 5 this morning at 08:00. A Whitethroat
was seen in Area 10 ( Lavells Lake Car Park Field) by Richard
Marsh.

08/09/12 Another warm and sunny morning
along the Emm. In Area 5, 2 Jackdaws were
over Morrisons this morning . In the balancing pond in Area 4 a pair of
Grey Wagtails were feeding in the channel.
Approx 5 Chiffchaff's were feeding on insects
on the sunlight Willows.

04/09/12 2 Cormorrant
were seen flying SE over Area 4 by Paul Bright Thomas. At Lavells
Lake Car park field in Area 10 Richard Marsh again saw Great spotted Woodpeckerand Green Woodpecker.

03/09/12 A good day along the Brook today
In Area 4 Paul Bright Thomas saw a Sparrowhawk
and a Hobby flying East. Lavells Lake
Car park field in Area 10 came up trumps again for Richard Marsh with a
minimum of 2 Blackcaps, a Song Thrush and 3 Ring necked
Parakeets in the trees. Earlier in the day Alan Rymer had a
juvenile Cuckoo and a Redstart

01/09/12 In Area's 4 & 5 today were
Greenfinch, Carrion Crow, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Song
Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Mallard, Herring
Gull, Starling, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Great
spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Collared Dove,Wren, Long
tailed Tit & Jay

Insects & Spiders

Click on any picture to see a larger image

29/09/12 In this mornings sunshine Red Admiral and Small White
Butterflies were warming themselves on the leaves of Oak trees.

22/09/12 Another male Common Darter was basking in the sun in the
balancing pond in Area 4 this morning. Not as many Butterflies today
just singles of Red Admiral , Small White and Speckled Wood
in Area5 with a single Comma by the
Brook in Area 3 adjacent to Lidls car park.Blackberries. Resting when
the sun went in allowed a photo to be taken. Four
spot orb weavers (Araneus quadratus) allthough another
first for the FOTEB Spider list, are fairly common. They can be found
throughout the U.K. in the summer and autumn months.

12/09/12 It was Area 9 today that took my
interest. Not as warm at midday but still warm enough for 2 Red Admiral and 2 Small Whites
to be on the wing. A single Comma was
also seen feeding off the ripe Blackberries. Resting when the sun went
in allowed a photo of this male Common Darter
to be taken. Four spot orb weavers
(Araneus quadratus) allthough another first for the FOTEB
Spider list, are fairly common. They can be found throughout the U.K. in
the summer and autumn months. The body colour is extremely variable.
They can be; yellow green, orange, red or brown. Usually the four white
spots on the abdomen which give this spider its name are visible.

11/09/12 It was a miday Butterfly bonanza
in Area's 4& 5 today. The Bramble bushes near Dragonfly Bridge had 2
Red Admiral and 2 Comma
resting in the sun on the leaves and nearby a Green veined White was on the grass. The Ash tree
behind Ripplestream Bridge proved a mecca for Comma
with a minimum of 7 soaking up the sun. 3Red
Admiral and 4 Speckled Wood were also
seen to be enjoying the sun. The Garden escapee Bubbleia near the Acorn
Centre lived up to their reputation of the Butterfly Bush with 2 Comma and singles of Red
Admiral and Small Tortoiseshellat
least 2 Small White were also seen.

09/09/12 The sun was shining and Red Admiral and Large White
butterflies were seen. The moth trap was used overnight. Only 20
moths of 10 species were trapped.

08/09/12 The flower heads in Area 5 were
busy with visiting bees and hoverflies today . Drone
flies and this Eristalis arbustorum
hoverfly was a first for the FOTEB list.

03/09/12 The Robins Pincushion develops on
wild roses after the larvae of the tiny gall wasp
Diplolepis rosae has laid its eggs in a bud in the spring. It
devolops during late summer acquiring its reddish colour as it matures
in the Autumn. These can currently be seen in Area 4 and Area 7 by Old
Forest Road bridge.

01/09/12 Dancing in the sunlight just
above the Brook around Kingfisher & Ripplestream Bridge in Area 4
& 5 were the Caddisflies Mystacides azurea
.

Plants/Trees

11/09/12 The first signs of the approach
of Autumn are starting to show. This Hornbeam
in Area 4 has taken on a lovely colour.

Other Wildlife

Click on any picture to see a larger image

Fish

Molluscs

15/09/12 This White
lipped Snail Cepaea hortensis was resting on Nettles in
Area 5. The white-lipped banded snail has a glossy, smooth shell, which
is typically yellow in colour but may be pink, brown or red, with up to
5 variable spiral dark bands and nearly always has an obvious white lip
around the shell opening. The body of the snail is usually greenish-grey
becoming yellow towards the rear

Fungi

12/09/12 In Area 9 what is believed to be
Chicken-of-the-woods Laetiporus sulphureus
was found on an Oak adjacent to the Emm. Chicken-of-the-woods
is a bracket fungus that usually grows in tiers of up to twenty
brackets. It has a fan shape with rounded edges that become more
in-curved as it gets older. The colour is a deep orangey-yellow to lemon
on top with sulphur yellow undersides when the fungus is young fading to
pale yellow or white as it ages. The bracket edge feels like velvet or
suede and the pores of fresh brackets give off pale-yellow watery
droplets.

Mammals

25/09/12 In Area 5 a very noisy Red Fox was calling loudly.

12/09/12 In Area 9 both Muntjac and Roe Deer
were seen on a private site.

06/09/12 Seen above the Brook around
Ripplestream Bridge in Area 5 at dusk were Pipistrelle bats.

Reptiles & Amphibians

.