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 August

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

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August 2026

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

 Leisure - W. H. Davies.

Birds

24/08/26 Seen in Area 10 from the Dinton Activity Centre were 5 Swift and 10 House Martin by Fraser Cottington. At the same location a Kingfisher was seen flying across the lake by Phipip Giles.

23/08/26 At Gorrick Woods in Area 1 a juvenille Buzzard was calling persistently from top of dead tree. At Chapel Green a Raven was heard calling, a Kestrel was in flight and another Buzzard was being mobbed by Carrion Crows , seen by Mark Collings.

22/08/26 At Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A were 2 Sedge Warbler feeding at the edge of the reed bed and a Kingfisher , Reed Warbler and a Wheatear on the wire fence behind eastern pond, seen by Paul O'Neill.

21/08/26 Seen at Old Forest Meadows during the Balsam pulling in Area 8 was a soaring Buzzard .

20/08/26 Seen this morning at Skinner Drive Balancing Pond in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill were a Water Rail feeding at the edge of the reed bed and a Kingfisher .

19/08/26 Heard and seen during this mornings Balsam pulling in Area 7 were Great spotted Woodpecker , Green Woodpecker , Stock Dove , Wren and a calling Blackcap .

18/08/26 During this evening's Balsam pullimg a Grey Wagtail was seen im the river in Area 4.In Area 10 a male Kestrel was on wires over the car park field seen by Peter Scudamore.

16/08/26 A Green Sandpiper was seen at Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A by Paul O'Neill.

13/08/26 In Area 10 at Black Swan Lake seen by Fraser Cottington from the Activity Centre were 4 Swift .

12/08/26 At Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A this morning were Kingfisher 2 Reed Warbler and 4 Chiffchaff . All seen by Paul O'Neill.

09/08/26 Paul O'Neill was at Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A again this morning and saw a Sedge Warbler , Reed Warbler and 4 Reed Bunting .

08/08/26 Evidence of return migration is visible in Area 10 at Black Swan Lake seen by Fraser Cottington from the Activity Centre were 10 Swift ,10 House Martin and 2 Swallow .

06/08/26 Paul O'Neill was at Skinner Drive balancing pond in Area 7A this morning and saw 5 Moorhen 4 juveniles and 1 adult, 5 Chiffchaff , a solitary Reed Warbler , 4 Whitethroat 2 adults and 2 juveniles. Nearby at Copsewood 11 House Martin were seen.In Area 10 at Black Swan Lake seen from the Activity Centre were 10 Swift and 20 House Martin by Fraser Cottington. In the Car park field were a female Whitethroat and 2+ Blackcap also seen by Fraser Cottington.

05/08/26 Seen in Area 10 at Black Swan Lake from the Activity Centre at 05:30 by Fraser Cottington were 15+ Swift , 1 Common Tern , a fly by Kingfisher and a Peregrine flying East South East.

03/08/26 In Area 10 at Black Swan Lake seen from the Activity Centre were 12 Swift and 2 Common Tern seen by Fraser Cottington.

02/08/26 Reed Warbler and juv Cuckoo At Lavells Lake in Area 10 a juvenile Cuckoo was seen being fed by its surrogate parents a pair of Reed Warler by Adrian Bull. Photo courtesy of Philip Giles.

01/08/26 In Area 10 at the Car Park field on the right hand side 3 Willow Warbler were seen by Pete Lunn.

Insects

30/08/26 The moth trap was out overnight on 29/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was low again and totalled 33 moth's of 18 species. There were no real highlights With 0 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 252 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

28/08/26 Vestal The moth trap was out overnight on 27/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was low with 29 moth's of 15 species. Ephestia elutella Highlights were a Vestal Rhodometra sacraria a migrant moth that breeds in southern Europe and North Africa and the micro moth Cacao Moth Ephestia elutella . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 252 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

26/08/26 Derwick's Plusia The moth trap was out overnight on 25/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 56 moth's of 31 species. Epiblema foenella Highlights were a Derwick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa a first for me, formerly a rare vagrant in the UK, but now it's expanding its range. The micro moth Epiblema foenella and the micro moth Paraswammerdamia albicapitella . Paraswammerdamia albicapitella With 5 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 250 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/08/26 Orange Swift The moth trap was out overnight on 23/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 53 moth's of 27 species. Flounced Rustic Highlights were a Orange Swift Triodia sylvina and a Flounced Rustic Luperina testacea . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 246 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

22/08/26 Anania perlucidalis The moth trap was out overnight on 21/08/26 and checked this morning . Temperature was only 11 C overnight and resulted in a disapointing catch with 24 moth's of 13 species. Highlight was a Anania perlucidalis a new moth for my garden list. With 1 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 244 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

20/08/26 The moth trap was out overnight on 20/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was down as a result of lower overnight temperatures and totalled 32 moth's of 18 species. There were no real highlights With 0 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 243 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

18/08/26 Centre-barred Sallow Back from a few days away so the moth trap was out overnight on 17/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 47 moth's of 27 species. Bright-line Brown-eye Highlights were a Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago ,Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea and Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum. Setaceous Hebrew Character With 6 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 243 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/08/26 Michael Hubbard has reported a few Clouded Yellow Colias croceus butterflies seen flying in Area 10 today.

12/08/26 Lime Hawk-moth The moth trap was out overnight on 11/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was reduced with 32 moth's of 18 species. Cydia amplana Highlights were a Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae and the micro moth Cydia amplana . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 237 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

10/08/26 Broad-bordered White The moth trap was out again overnight on 09/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 49 moth's of 27 species. Straw Underwing Highlights were a Broad-bordered White Macaria notata and a Straw Underwing Hadula trifolii . With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 235 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. 2 Clouded Yellow Colias croceus butterflies were seen flying in Area 10 todayby Fraser Cottington.

09/08/26 Holly Blue Seen nectaring on the flowers of the weary looking Mint in my Area 4 garden was a Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus butterfly.

08/08/26 Peacock Moth The moth trap was out again overnight on 07/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 32 moth's of 24 species. Nutmeg Highlights were a very battered Peacock Moth Macaria notata and a Nutmeg Hadula trifolii With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 233 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. Also seen in an Area 5 Hummingbird Hawk-moth garden was a Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum .

07/08/26 Migrant Hawker In Area 10 a Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta dragonflies were on the wing. Photo courtesy of Philip Giles.

05/08/26 Argyresthia bonnetella The moth trap was out again overnight on 04/08/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 40 moth's of 22 species. Pammene populana Highlights were the micro moths Argyresthia bonnetella and Pammene populana With 2 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 231 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

03/08/26 Jersey Tiger The moth trap was out again overnight on 02/08/26 and checked this morning . It was a fairly windy night and an equipment malfunction, meant that the catch was 33 moth's of 13 species. 18 of the moths caught were Jersey Tiger Heliothis peltigera . With no new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is still 229 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/08/26 Lime-speck Pug The moth trap was out again overnight on 31/07/26 and checked this morning . The catch was 44 moth's of 28 species. Juniper Webber Highlights were Lime-speck Pug Heliothis peltigera and the micro moths Juniper Webber Dichomeris marginella and Bramble Blotch-miner Coptotriche marginea Coptotriche marginea With 3 new moth species added ,the total for 2026 is 229 species.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

Plants/ Trees

06/08/26 Horse Chestnut The warm weather continues with no end or rain in sight. As a result the plants and trees are suffering,however the Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum would seem to be surviving .

Spiders

26/08/26 Flower Spider In my Area 4 garden a Flower Spider Misumena vatia was seen hiding in my Buddleia .

Fungi/ Lichen

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

Reptiles

Fish

Mammals/Amphibians

19/08/26 American Mink An American Mink Neogale vison was seen in the Emm Brook in Area 5 by Bethane Cole .