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Latest Sightings August 2010

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).

Click on any picture to see a larger image.

All sightings unless stated by Eddie Napper

Birds

29/08/10

In Area 4 today at 13:00 flying low E along the Emm 2
Swifts were seen by Paul Bright Thomas.

25/08/10

In Area 5 around Riverside Walk Goldfinches can now be seen in small groups ,in
Area 4 a Coal Tit was seen by Paul Bright
Thomas.

25/08/10

Seen and heard in Area 4 Swift. Green
Woodpecker., Chaffinch, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Moorhen, Stock Dove
and a Cormorrant flying E . Sighting by Paul
Bright Thomas

18/08/10

4 Swift flying SE over Area 4.
Sighting by Paul Bright Thomas

13/08/10

A Hobby flying low W over Area
4 at 0730 + a Bullfinch . Sighting by Paul
Bright Thomas

12/08/10

Finally got a fuzzy record shot of a
Moorhen and saw a Grey
Wagtail near the bridge over the Emm to the rear of Arthur Road
in Area 4.

11/08/10

An adult Common
Tern & House Martin flew S and a Swift
flew W over Area 4. A Coal Tit was
seen around gardens in Area 4. Sighting by Paul Bright Thomas

09/08/10

1 Swift flew SE and a Hobby flew NE over Area 4. Sighting by Paul Bright
Thomas

08/08/10

10 Canada Geese flew SE over
Area 5 calling at 0545 and a Red Kite was
seen circling mid morning. 3 Common Tern were
flying SE over Area 5 in the afternoon.

07/08/10

A pair of Bullfinches were seen
at a Sunflower Heart feeder in a garden in Area 5.

04/08/10

A Grey Wagtail was seen on the
exposed gravel on the river bed near the bridge to the rear of Arthur
Road

01/08/10

During an early morning walk through Area
4 & 5 I saw 5 Canada Goose flying NW in
formation, Green Woodpecker, Blackcap, Chiffchaff,
Coot, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Gt Tit, Blue Tit,
Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove ,2 Swift, Goldfinch . and a
male Bullfinch With no sightings for approx 5
days I thought that the local Swifts had all departed back to Africa .
Maybe that these 2 were just passing through and on that trip.

Insects

20/08/10

Last nights moth trap held approx 52 moths of 21 species.
One of the nicest was the Flame Carpet . The
trap also held 2 Sexton Beetles
Nicrophorus investigator These orange and black
beetles are the undertakers of the insect world. They bury small dead
animals as a home and food store for their larvae. The beetles are
attracted by the sulphurous chemicals given off by carrion such as mice
and birds. It is thought they may be able to detect it from over a mile
away. .

13/08/10

Shieldbugs can be found amongst the vegetation alongside
the river 2 seen recently are Coreus marginatus
and Sloe Bug Dolycoris
baccarum .

08/08/10

Hoverflies can be seen in abundance at this time of year.
2 of the commonest along side the Emm are Episyrphus balteatus and Syrphus ribesii.

05/08/10

The current FOTEB Moth List for 2010 stands at 180
species.

01/08/10

A Speckled Bush Cricket was
seen sitting on leaves in a Bramble bush near Dragonfly Bridge.

Other Wildlife

Fish

13/08/10

Perch were seen in Area 6 from
the bridge near Mill Close.

Mammals

28/08/10

A young Fox .was seen running
along Brookside in Area 5 this morning at 10.20. .

13/08/10

A Water Vole .was seen in Area
2. David Nash sent the following sighting "Just by the concrete bridge
where the footpath from Gipsy Lane to Lucas Hospital (via the equestrian
centre) crosses the brook. Paddled very quickly into a probable burrow
under the overhanging bank. It was the right size, shape and behaviour.
.

08/08/10

The only mammal seen on a regular basis at the moment is
the Grey Squirrel . .

Plants/Trees

13/08/10

Several Japanese Parasoll Mushroom
Corrpinus plicatilis were seen in Area 5.

12/08/10

The first fungi seen this month Spindleshank Collybia fusipes were found in
Area 5

08/08/10

The first Horse Chestnut
"Conker" was seen today. However the tree itself appeared to be
suffering from an attack by the Horse Chestnut leaf
miner.

01/08/10

Hazel nuts are just starting to
ripen and turn brown.