Click on the link to send in your sightings info@foteb.org.uk to help us monitor Emm Brook wildlife.This type of ‘citizen science’ allows us to get a clearer picture of what is happening along the Emm.

For previous months sightings see Archive

The "Area Seen" refers to the 11 sections that the Brook has been split into for monitoring purposes (see Wildlife page under Monitoring ).

For what you can expect to see on the Emm this month, click here June

All sightings unless stated are from personal observations by Eddie Napper.

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June 2026

What is this life if full of care , we have no time to stand and stare.

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

08/06/26 At Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A a Reed Warbler was heard calling by Paul O'Neill.

06/06/26 A Chiffchaff was heard calling during the litter pick in Areas 4 & 5 along with Song Thrush , Nuthatch and a pair of Mallard on the brook. 4 Grey Wagtail including 2 juvenille's were on the beach at the Activity Centre in Area 10, with 25 Swift over the lake seen by Fraser Cottington. DAC: 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 juvenile on beach, c25 Swift over tall trees bordering Sandford

05/06/26 A Greenfinch was in the Activity Centre car park seen by Anne Butcher.

02/06/26 Seen flying under the top decking at the Dinton Activity Centre by Philip Giles were 2 Swallow ,and 2 Grey Wagtail on the jetty.

Insects

08/06/26 Common Emerald The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 07/06/26 and checked this morning .The catch was 61 moth's of 28 species. L-album Wainscot Highlights were a Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria , L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album and Marbled Minor Oligia strigilis . Marbled Minor With 10 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 110 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

06/06/26 Striped Hawk-moth The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 05/06/26 and checked this morning .Woken by the rain it was brought in at 02:00 , the catch was 20 moth's of 10 species. Scorched Wing Highlights were a Striped Hawk-moth Hyles livornica a scarce immigrant species,, Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria said to resemble burnt paper and the micro moth Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla . Beautiful Plume With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 100 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

04/06/26 Pale Mottled Willow With a window in the rain showers the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 03/06/26 and checked this morning .A cooler night and as a result the catch was 25 moth's of 13 species. Eudonia lacustrata Highlights were a Pale Mottled Willow Phalera bucephala and the micro moth Eudonia lacustrata With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 97 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/06/26 Buff-Tip The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 31/05/26 and checked this morning . A warm night.It produced a good catch of 40 moth's of 28 species. Small Magpie Highlights were a Buff-Tip Phalera bucephala .When at rest, the adults of this species bear a remarkable resemblance to a broken twig of Silver Birch. Small Magpie Anania hortulata and a Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae .These pretty black and red moths are often confused for butterflies. Their black and yellow caterpillars are a common sight on ragwort plants. The caterpillar’s bright colours warn predators not to eat them, giving a strong signal that they are poisonous Cinnabar Moth With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 95 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

02/06/26 Pyramidal Orchid Just starting to come into flower in Area 10 are Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and Birds-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus and Birds-foot Trefoil . Common bird's-foot-trefoil has a vareity of names that conjure up some interesting images: 'Eggs and Bacon', for instance. One of the more evocative names for common bird's-foot-trefoil is 'Granny's toenails', which gives an instant, and perhaps not-so-pleasant, impression of the claw-like seed pods.

Fungi/ Lichen

Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified , some are DEADLY when ingested .

Reptiles

Fish

Mammals/Amphibians

06/06/26 During the litter pick in Area 5 ,a froglet Common Frog Rana temporaria was seen moving through the grass near the river.

02/06/26 In Area 10 ,running up the drive to the Fishermans Car park was a Muntjac Deer Muntiacus reevesi .