s foteb.org.uk | Friends of the Emm Brook

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 September

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

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September 2026

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

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

16/09/26 At Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A seen by Paul O'Neill was a Whinchat on fence/trees behind eastern pond, 5 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler in bushes along Ashridge Stream .

11/09/26 Once again the Car park field in Area 10 produced the goods , with a Spotted Flycatcher on the west side, 5 Chiffchaff and 10 Blackcap in the big Hawthorn, all sightings by Fraser Cottington.

10/09/26 In the Carpark field in Area 10 a Grey Wagtail was seen on the power lines by Philip Giles.

08/09/26 Trevor Guyatt was out in the Car park field in Area 10 where a Hobby flew low over the field towards Lavell’s chased by a Carrion Crow also 4 Blackcap ,2 male’s and 2 female’s were on the northern hedge.

06/09/26 At Area 7A at Skinner Drive Balancing Pond was a Mute Swan Willow Warbler and 5 Chiffchaff all seen by Paul O'Neill. In Area 10 this morning at the Car Park field was a fly over by 13 Yellow Wagtail . A Kestrel was seen and 10-15 Blackcap were in the bushes. A female Redstart was on the fence all seen by Fraser Cottington.

03/09/26 In Area 10 were 3 Little Egret seen flying over the Dinton Activity Center and along the Emm Brook by Fraser Cottington.

02/09/26 Kingfisher Seen and photographed in Area 10 by Philip Giles was a Kingfisher that was perched on a branch.

01/09/26 In Area 4 a Yellow Wagtail was seen and heard flying over Paul Bright- Thomas's garden. At Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A were a Mute Swan ,presumably the returning mate of the one that died here early this year, a Kingfisher , 6 Swallow heading West a male Blackcap and a White throat all seen by Paul O'Neill.In Area 10 from the Landfill Viewing Point were 6 Sand Martin and 50 Swallow heading South seen by Fraser Cottington.

Insects

19/09/26 Scarce Silver-lines The moth trap was out overnight on 18/09/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 39 moth's of 13 species. Highlight was Scarce Silver-lines Bena bicolorana With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 265 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

17/09/26 Lunar Underwing Unaware of the predicted rain the moth trap was out overnight on 16/09/26 and checked this morning . The catch was affected with 39 moth's of 14 species. Highlight was Lunar Underwing Omphaloscelis lunosa With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 263 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/09/26 Ivy Bee Seen in the heathland area at Heath Lake in Area 1 was Ivy Bee Colletes hederae a harmless, solitary ground-nesting bee that emerges in late August through November to feed on flowering ivy. Seen by Nick Baldwin.

15/09/26 The Sallow The moth trap was out overnight on 14/09/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 88 moth's of 27 species. Highlight was The Sallow Cirrhia icteritia With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 262 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

13/09/26 Palpita vitrealis The moth trap was out overnight on 12/09/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 90 moth's of 28 species. Brindled Green Highlights were 2 Palpita vitrealis a migrant moth from southern Europe and a Brindled Green Dryobotodes eremita . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 261 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

11/09/26 Angle Shades The moth trap was out overnight on 10/09/26 and checked this morning . Following 2 nights of nothing new it was a better quality catch with 69 moth's of 24 species. Clancy's Rustic Highlights were a Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa and the migrant moth Clancy's Rustic Caradrina kadenii first recorded in Berkshire in 2020, and a Frosted Orange Gortyna flavago . Frosted Orange With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 259 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

09/09/26 The moth trap was out overnight on 08/09/26 and checked this morning . A reasonable catch with 31 moth's of 10species. Another night of no highlights . With no new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 256 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/09/26 The moth trap was out overnight on 06/09/26 and checked this morning . A reasonable catch with 74 moth's of 23 species. There were no highlights . With no new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 256 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

05/09/26 Orange Sallow The moth trap was out overnight on 04/09/26 and checked this morning . It was a typical autumn catch with 39 moth's of 12 species. Highlights were a Orange Sallow Agrius convolvuli another first for me. With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 256 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. Speckled Wood Also seen during the litter pick were 2 male Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria butterflies locked in a spiraling battle for territory. Males of the species "fight" over the sunny basking spots on the woodland floor.

03/09/26 Convolvulus Hawkmoth The moth trap was out overnight on 02/09/26 and checked this morning . With the weather warming up again it was a better catch with 72 moth's of 21 species. Oncocera semirubella Highlights were a Convolvulus Hawkmoth Agrius convolvuli a first for me, a migrant moth from Europe with a wingspan of nearly 5 inches. At the other end of the scale the beautifully-coloured micro moth Oncocera semirubella with a wingspan of 0.6 inches, also known as "Rhubarb and Custard" and a very battered looking Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria . Small Blood-vein With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 255 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/09/26 The moth trap was out overnight on 31/08/26 and checked this morning . Overnight temperatures were low at 10.5C as a result the catch was low with 36 moth's of 16 species. Ephestia elutella There were no highlights . With no new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 252 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

05/09/26 Rosehip As the summer draws to a close the early autumn brings the fruits from the hedgerow. Seen during the litter pick in Area 4 and 5 were the edible fruit from the Dog Rose Rosa canina and Hawthorn Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna the fruits are known as Haws. Both are ideal food in the winter months for birds.

Spiders

05/09/26 Spiders Web It’s that time of year again, when Spiders webs beome more visible. You can easily spot visible spider webs across UK gardens and hedges in late summer and autumn when morning dew highlights the intricate silk structures. This one was on an old Umbellifer at Dragonfly Bridge in Area 4.

Fungi/ Lichen

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

Reptiles

Fish

01/09/26 Common Roach Seen swimming in the Emm Brook by Jurgen Adam in Area 4,from Kingfisher Bridge were several what are believed to be Common Roach Rutilus rutilus .

Mammals/Amphibians