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.

Click on any picture to see a larger image

June 2026

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

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

25/06/26 A Grey Heron was seen flying over the Spine Road in Area 5.

24/06/26 In the climbing area at the Activity Center in Area 10 were 2 Goldcrest ,a Coal Tit and 2 Goldfinch seen by Philip Giles.

22/06/26 Oystercatcher On a pontoon in Area 10 at Black Swan Lake were 2 Oystercatcher .

20/06/26 Kingfisher At Black Swan Lake in Area 10 there were 25+ Swift and 75 Egyptian Goose seen by Fraser Cottington. Seen and photographed by Sam Marchant was a Kingfisher near the Emm Brook at Bittern Hide.

18/06/26 Coal Tit In the Climbing Area at the Activity Centre in Area 10 was a Coal Tit seen and photographed by Philip Giles. A Nuthatch was heard calling around my Area 4 garden today and 2 Swift . were screeching overhead.

14/06/26 In Area 10 a Cuckoo was seen being chased down the Emm Brook by a Jackdaw .Sighting by Peter Scudamore. At Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A a Reed Warbler was heard calling by Paul O'Neill and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing from trees alongside Ashridge Stream.

12/06/26 At the Activity Centre in Area 10 a Kingfisher flew left to right along the Emm Brook. seen by Philip Giles

10/06/26 Grey Wagtail On the beach at the Activity Centre in Area 10 were 2 Grey Wagtail seen by Philip Giles. Grey Wagtail Seen and photographed by Philip Giles,

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.

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

25/06/26 The Herald Overnight temperatures in the low 20 degrees so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 24/06/26 and checked this morning .The catch was 70 moth's of 31 species. Yellow-tail Highlights were the The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix An unmistakeable and distinctive moth with broad, strongly hooked forewings with a scalloped edge and white cross-lines. Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Yellow tail just about visible in the photo, and the micro moth Crambus periella . Crambus periella With 11 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 158 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

23/06/26 White Plume Moth The warm weather continues so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 20/06/26 and checked this morning .Another good night, the catch was 122 moth's of 26 species. Dun-bar Highlights were the White Plume Moth Pterophorus pentadactyla Probably the most distinctive of the 'Plume' moths and one of the largest. Its wings are deeply divided into several 'fingers', each of which is finely feathered, or plumed. Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina and Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis .One of the largest "micro-moths" in the UK. Mother of Pearl With 4 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 147 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

21/06/26 Yellow Shell The warm weather continues so the moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 20/06/26 and checked this morning .With a good night the catch was 93 moth's of 31 species. Acleris forsskaleana Highlights were the beautiful Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata the micro moth Acleris forsskaleana and Least Carpet Idaea rusticata . Least Carpet With 10 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 143 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

20/06/26 Aceria myriadeum In Morrisons car park in Area 5 is the gall mite Aceria myriadeum on a Field Maple.A tiny mite, about 0.15-0.2 mm in size.that produces the pimple-like spots on the leaves.

19/06/26 In Carol Woodman's Area 7 garden today was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum .The hummingbird hawk-moth migrates to the UK from Southern Europe each year. It can be seen hovering over flowers, feeding with its long proboscis; its wings move so quickly that it 'hums'.

17/06/26 Agapeta hamana The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 16/06/26 and checked this morning .With a good night the catch was 58 moth's of 31 species. Batia lunaris Highlights were the micro moths with Agapeta hamana , Batia lunaris and Dichrorampha petiverella . Dichrorampha petiverella With 9 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 133 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/06/26 Common Field Grasshopper On a tarpaulin in my Area 4 garden was a Common Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus .

15/06/26 Common Wainscot The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 14/06/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 58 moth's of 26 species. The Coronet Highlights were a Common Wainscot Lozotaenia forsterana and The Coronet Craniophora ligustri . With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 124 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

13/06/26 Large Ivy Tortrix The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 12/06/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 34 moth's of 19 species. Rusty Dot Pearl Highlights were a Large Ivy Tortrix Lozotaenia forsterana and Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis . With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 118 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

10/06/26 Burnished Brass The moth trap was out in my Area 4 garden overnight on 09/06/26 and checked this morning . A windy night is not really conducive for trapping. The catch was 9 moth's of 5 species. Mottled Beauty Highlights were a Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis with it's spectacular brassy, metallic sheen on the forewings . The adults feed at dusk at the flowers of Honeysuckle, Buddleias and Red Valerian and Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 112 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

09/06/26 Meadow Brown Visiting my garden this afternoon was a Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina butterfly.

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

15/06/26 A Red Fox Vulpes vulpes was heard barking outside my house in Area 4 at 02:30.

14/06/26 Roe Deer Seen in Area 10 on the edges of the lake was a Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus .Photo courtesy of Phiip Giles.

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 .