Birds

30/07/15

In Area 5 this morning at least 1 Canada Goose flew over my house calling. Numbers unknown as I was still in bed.

26/07/15

A calling Coal Tit was visiting my Area 5 garden feeders, this morning at 05:30

24/07/15

Under darkening skies over my Area 5 garden tonight were at least 6 Swift . A Grey Heron flew over calling and at 20:30 at least 1 Canada Goose flew over calling.

22/07/15

In Area 3 and parked up in the Lidl car park on Ashville Way the distinctive high pitched call of a Kingfisher was heard as it flew along the Emm. In Area 2 to the rear of Tesco's a mixed flock of 20+ Swallows & House Martins were flying over the farm buildings feeding off Insects. Ring-necked Parakeets were also heard calling. In Area 5 while litter picking this morning, several Swift were schreeching overhead, a Green Woodpecker was feeding on ants on the grass, Great spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch were heard calling.A Grey Wagtail was seen on the pond edge.

17/07/15

In Area 5 by Morrisons at 20:00 a pair of Bullfinch were seen.

09/07/15

This morning Swifts were screaming overhead in Area 5. In Area 1 at Heathlake a young Coot remained on the nest whilst it's parents went of feeding.A Black headed Gull came down for a drink and a juvenille Mute Swan was seen.

05/07/15

In Area 4 & 5 this morning a total of 25 species of birds were seen and heard, highlights included a Grey Wagtail on the edge of the new pond, a calling Coal Tit , juvenille Blackcap , an early morning Sparrowhawk possibly carrying prey and numerous Song Thrush and Blackbird .

03/07/15

In Area 4 by the balancing pond a Grey Wagtail was in the stream leading to the Emm. A Green Woodpecker was calling from the riverside bushes.

02/07/15

In Area 5 this afternoon,what I assume was a pair of Buzzard were seen enjoying the thermals. A bit later an unprecented 5 Red Kite possibly a family party flew over Woosehill Meadows.

Insects

26/07/15

Seen in Area 3 to the rear of Lidl during Balsam pulling was a Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae caterpiller feeding on Ragwort by the riverside.

19/07/15

Butterflies seen today in the sunshine wereComma Polygoniac-album Butterflies seen today in the sunshine wereComma Polygoniac-album,Large White Pieris brassicae,Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina, Speckled Wood Parage aegeria, Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus,Red Admiral Vanessa atlanta and the first Green-veined White Pieris napi of the year. In the long grass of the Area 5 Wildflower Meadow were lots of stridulating Meadow Grasshopper Aphantopus hyperantus. Roesel's Bush-cricket Metrioptera roeselii were also heard.The first Hornet Vespa crabro was flying over the river.

18/07/15

In Area 5 this morning Hoverflies were enjoying the warm sun Cheilosia illustrata and Eupeodus luniger Cheilosia illustrata is a furry bumblebee mimic with a dark wing cloud. The body is usually pale haired with a black band across the centre of the thorax, and another across tergite 3. It is typically seen settled with its wings closed tightly over its back. Butterflies also seen wereEssex Skipper Rhagonycha fulva , Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus, Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus and Large White Pieris brassicae

11/07/15

In my Area 5 garden this morning a Leaf Cutter Bee Megachile centuncularis was busy doing what they do best on the leaves of garden roses.Down by the river numerous Solider Beetle Rhagonycha fulva were on the umbel flower heads of Hogweed.This is one of Britain's most amorous insects - known by the name of the Hogweed Bonking Beetle - Rhagonycha fulva is the most common soldier beetle in Britain and it has been named in reference to its very healthy sex life. The beetle is almost invariably found in copulating pairs that stay hooked together while feeding and even flying. In the wildflower meadow the first Essex Skipper Rhagonycha fulva butterfly of the year was seen. Despite its name, the Essex Skipper is now found over much of the southern half of England.The Essex Skipper and Small Skipper are very similar however the Essex Skipper and Small Skipper can be distinguished by the colour of the underside of the tips of the antennae. In the Essex Skipper, this area is black and in the Small Skipper it is brown. This holds true for both sexes.

09/07/15

In Area 1 at Heathlake this lunchtime at least 3 Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator were flying over the lake ovipositing, with numerousCommon Blue Damselflies Enallagma cyathigerum The Emperor is Britain's bulkiest Dragonfly. Its bright colours and active habit make it very obvious when hunting over medium to large water bodies. It rarely settles, even eating its prey in flight. Both sexes have a bright, apple-green thorax and green or blue eyes. The costa is bright yellow. They often fly with the rear of the abdomen bent slightly downwards.

08/07/15

Today at the Lavells Lake car park field in Area 10 Meadow Brown,s Maniola jurtina appeared to be everywhere flying up from the long grass as I walked through. Also seen were Gatekeepers Pyronia tithonus. Damsel and Dragonflies were also out and about with Common Blue Damselflies Enallagma cyathigerum and a possible Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator.

04/07/15

Over the Area 5 Wildflower Meadow a Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis was seen . The Brown Hawker is a large hawker dragonfly which is on the wing from the end of June through to September. It can be spotted patrolling a regular hunting territory which it will defend aggressively against intruders. Hawkers are the largest and fastest flying dragonflies; they catch their insect-prey mid-air and can hover or fly backwards.

02/07/15

Plant/Trees

19/07/15

All along the Emm Meadow Sweet Filipendula ulmaria is starting to appear. The sweet smelling flower can often be smelt before its seen.

18/07/15

With the warm and sunny weather continuing the first of the ripe Blackberry Rubus Villosus are starting to appear.

03/07/15

Alongside the Emm lots of the friuts of the trees and plants are starting to ripen. Hazel Corylus avellana is now starting to get its nuts.Blackberry Rubus Villosus whilst still green at the moment, are starting to ripen in the sun.

02/07/15

In the balancing pond by Smiths Walk Area 4 today was Purple Loosestrife Maniola jurtina in flower.

Other Wildlife

Mammals

Fungi

Amphibians

Molluscs

Fish/ Crustacean

15/07/15

At the bottom of his Area 7 garden Paul Goulbourn had a 4lb Pike Esox lucius swim past along the Emm.

01/07/15

Standing on Ripplestream Bridge this morning In Area 5 at least 50 small fish were milling about in the Emm. They are as yet unidentified.

For a review of the sightings along the Emm for the first 8 months of 2014 click here May - August 2014 Sightings