September 2024

Small bird numbers on the winter bird food crop seem to be increasing every day 150- 200 were seen on the 3rd, predominantly Linnets with Goldfinch and other species mixed in. Harry and volunteer Guy burnt up all the brash and wood in the orchard.

Our first ever Dragonflies, Grasshoppers & Crickets Walk on the 4th September 2024, led by Harry, was blessed with good weather and we saw a few late Butterflies, Brimstone, Small Whites, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns. Also several Harvestmen, Wasp Spiders, Long-winged Conehead  Cricket – Conocephalus fuscus,  and Dark Bush Cricket and Meadow Grasshopper. Unfortunately, we did see any Great Green Bush Crickets although there have been several around recently, including in the office. As we walked down to towards the ponds two Grey Heron took off, this was very unusual as we rarely see more than one at a time.  There were a good number of Dragonflies and Damselflies – Common Darter, Beautiful Demoiselle and we saw a couple of Southern Hawker’s chasing each other around.

Heavy overnight rain brought down a small Hazel bough on the Apprentice Path which was cleared on the 6th. There were around 200 Linnet on the wild bird food crop and some Siskin in the Ash tree near the first field shelter. On the 8th 150-200 birds, probably Linnet flying to and from the bird food crop which has lots of Forage Rape and Oats. A Barn Owl, probably female, flushed from back of Wildlife Tower (emerged from inside).

In Corner Wood on the 9th a bat box was retrieved having come down from the tree it was fixed on. There were about 100 Linnet on wild bird food crop, six Stonechat on electric fence wire and two Swallows hawking. Himalayan Balsam was found near the Holly near the first field shelter. Later that day there were two distinct flocks of birds on the crop, about 50 and about 20. Himalayan Balsam plants growing near the top field shelter were pulled. A branch of a heavily laden apple tree by the bee hives in the orchard had snapped and was hanging on. A few others in laid hedge line need propping.  A large flock of Linnet were seen on bird crop again on the 11th.

Apple tree branches in the orchard were gently shaken to relieve some weight and avoid breakages on the 13th. A Barn Owl was spotted roosting in the Kestrel provision of the Wildlife Tower. There were around 250 Linnet and a few Goldfinch on the crop. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen perching on the electric fence near the hedge. Other sightings on the day included 6 Swallows and 2 House Marten hawking over Top Field and 2 Tree Pipit flew from ground into the Green House hedge. Roe deer have return, a trail camera picked up two passing the top of corner wood. Video shows a doe with a juvenile passing by.

On the 15^th David heard Peregrine call and turned to see two Peregrines – they flew in fairly close formation extremely low over the LLP passing only 20 feet from him.

Chiffchaff, Chaffinch and House Sparrow were seen feeding on Haws from the Hawthorn behind the second field shelter on the 16^th. About 150 Linnet were on the crop and young Blackbirds were on the track in Kiln Close. A fallen nestbox was retrieved from Corner Wood.

A Kingfisher was heard calling loudly and repeatedly from the river just below BOT office on the 19th and on the 20th the water level in stream bed connecting the two ponds was very low, the water was flowing into the lower pond below the stream bed. A Gray Wagtail was seen at the ponds and 10 Swallows were hawking over the Top Field, only 2 Linnet were seen and the Barn Owl wasn’t in the Kestrel provision. However, on the 23^rd a Barn Owl was perched on the beam at the back of the second field shelter in Kiln Close. The trail camera shows Red Fox and Badger passing through Corner Wood into Pensland Lane most nights for the past two weeks. Good dragonfly activity on the Flo pond, mostly Southern Hawkers and Common Darters.

Torrential rain and wind on the 29^th flatten some of the crop but Cornflowers, Corn Chamomile and some Poppies were still flowering along with Musk Mallow and Corn Marigold that had crept into the mix.

On the 30^th the Barn Owl was again seen perched in the Kiln Close field shelter and there were loads of fresh droppings. Meadow Pipits, either singly or in small groups have been seen flying up out of the rough grassland on most days this month.

With a mean temperature of 13.7°C the month was cooler than our 19-year average of 14.2°C and cooler than any year since 2018. We recorded our second highest September rainfall here 161.8mm over 17-days, last year it was 182.8mm. 52.6mm of the rain fell on the 29^th. It was also a windier month than usual with an average of 2.8mph compared to 2.1.