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small copper - Gatehouse Studios |
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knapweed |
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swallow fledgling |
What to watch out for in September
Although summer will soon be over the remaining days of warm sunshine and light evenings provide the perfect opportunity to see butterflies. At Folly Farm, Walton Common or Stockwood Open Space late-flowering wildflowers like devil's bit, scabious and knapweed prove irrestible to butterflies. Species like the small copper, with its iridescent orange markings are known to fly as late as October.
An Indian Summer, (if we're lucky enough to have one!) will keep the flow of migrant insects to our island at a steady stream. Our own population of migrant hawkers already on the wing can be increased dramatically with dragonflies coming in from Europe. At Dolebury Warren or Goblin Combe watch out for these small but agile hawkers gathering together in large numbers feeding on smaller insects as they hunt alongside the scrub and tree edges at these limestone grassland sites. With changing weather patterns some species of dragonfly are flying later and the most recent dragonfly record was for a common darter at the start of December. Clapton Moor and Weston Moor are good places to look and if that date can be bettered let us know members@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
At Weston Moor or Bathampton Meadow a lucky observer may see one of our largest predatory insects, the hornet robberfly. These large insects sit eagle-eyed on top of cowpats in cattle pasture waiting for passing insects to come within catching range.
At Walborough and Hellenge Hill the autumn-ladies tresses will just be finishing their late flowering season. Young hirundines (swallows, house and sand martins) begin to gather in large flocks, either to feed on aerial insects or to roost in safety. During this month these flocks begin to appear at Chew Valley Lake where they feed on clouds of insects, enabling young birds to build up their weight with fat deposits in preparation for their long flight south. They are, however, also food for the hobby, a fast, highly manoeuvrable falcon that is well adapted to catch these nimble birds. Hobbies have also been seen catching young swallows at Folly Farm and dragon flies at Weston Moor as they in turn prepare for their journey south to warmer climes.
Recent sightings
- 26 July - Goblin Combe - silver washed fritillary
- 10 July - Ashlands - water vole, black-tailed skimmer
- 16 July - Purn Hill - several butterflies including: peacock, holly blue, gatekeeper and comma
- 27 July - Brandon Hill - volucella zonaria (unusual hoverfly)
- 1 August - off Portishead - porpoises
- 18 August - Max Bog - 6 juvenile toads
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common darter
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common toad - Gatehouse Studios
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