Between the 5th and the 12th David and Harry worked on the abstraction point in the river which feeds the ponds. Blocking has been a constant problem since the ponds were created in November 2006. The system was redesigned in 2010, but it still blocked regularly, meaning that the pipes had to be brushed to keep the water flowing. When they finished, the water was flowing freely and the stream between the two ponds was running for the first time in ages.
Two Tawny Owls that came to us as owlets in the Spring were released from mobile aviary in Kiln Close on the evening of 12th. One flew straight out and the other slowly went into the neighbouring trees. Food will be provided in the aviary in case they return. A Roe Deer and Rabbits were seen in the Main Field with the thermal imager. This is the first deer sighting for some time: since the pine plantation on the far side of Pennsland Lane and others further up the valley were clear felled last winter, there have been hardly any deer seen.
Wasp Spider- female
A dead Water Shrew was found in the gateway to North Park / Forde Orchard on the 13th. This is the first LLP record of the species. On the 14th Harry and David led a group of 7 members of the public for a very pleasant Summer Walk around the LLP in good weather. By the middle of the month, the small bird flocks feeding regularly on the crop were increasing daily, mainly Linnets. On the 16th a Barn Owl perch and hay rack were fitted in the second field shelter in Kiln Close. A large patch of upright plants growing near the vole monitoring squares were identified as Upright Hedge-parsley – Torilis japonica – on the 17th and a Hobby Falcon – Falco subbuteo – was seen for about 15 seconds (about 100 metres away – good view) chasing (probably) a Swallow over the bird food crop at high speed with dramatic twisting and turning! A Kestrel was hovering over main field in lots of different places. Five Stone Chats were on the electric fence around the crop on the 19th, probably a pair with a brood of three. Chiff-chaff were seen entering the crop, where several Linnets were feeding.
Two young broods of Stonechat, one with three young at the south end of the crop and the other with four at the north end were recorded on the 20th. Seven Linnet, and 28 Goldfinch were seen entering the crop and flushing under young Buzzard. Six Swallows were flying over top field. On the 21st Harry strimmed the grass under the electric fence around the crop to stop the fence shorting out. Slow Worms are regularly being seen under the corrugated sheets at the top of the Main Field.
Slow Worm
By the 26th the three kinds of Millet in the winter bird crop were all flowering. The small bird flock over the crop had increased to 60+. A Kestrel was seen hovering over Kiln Close and the Main Field and more Barn Owl droppings were evident in the first field shelter.
The paths were mown by David on the 27th who saw a Kestrel hunting over the crop and a flock of about 30 small birds including about 10 Goldfinch. A Goshawk was spotted flying over Main Field and Kiln Close. On the 28th there were about 50 small birds on the crop and in the hedgerow. A Grey Heron flew up from the pool above the top bridge in Corner Wood and there was a large slow worm under a sheet of corrugated. Slow worms were seen again on both the 30th and 31st under both corrugated sheets at the top of the Main Field.
The new abstraction system was working well at the end of the month but the stream between the two ponds seems to be losing water which is arriving at the lower pond (Oakley) by travelling under the stream bed rather than over it.
The mean temperature for the month was 16.4°C, 0.4°C higher than our 19-year average but the mean temperature for the whole summer (June, July & August) was 0.3°C lower than our average summer temperature. Our highest recorded temperature in the month was 0.6°C higher and our lowest was 0.3°C lower than average showing a highly variable month with no 2 consecutive days the same. We had 42.2mm of rain over 15 days, our average for August is 80.3mm but in August 2023 we had 105mm.